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THE  ROBERT  E.  COWAN  COLLECTION 

I'RESKNTlCn   TO   Tin; 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

C.  P.  HUNTINGTON 

JUNE,   18Q7. 

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California, 
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STRUGGLES 


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LIFE  AND  HOME 


IN  THE 


North -West. 


BY    A    PIONEER    HOMEBUILDER. 


LIFE,   1865-1889. 


Geo.  W.   Kranck. 


NEW   YORK: 
I.  GoLDMANN,  Steam  Printer,  7,  9  &  u  New  Chambers  St.         fe^ 


1890. 


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Copyright,  1890,  by  GEO.  W.  FRANCE. 


PREKACB. 


I  do  not  claim  for  this  book  any  literary  merit,  except  tliat 
borrowed  or  quoted  from  others,  for,  when  Gushing  could 
mark  5000  mistakes  in  Webster's  Unabridged  Dictionary  (say- 
ing that  for  the  size  of  the  book  it  had  as  few  errors  as  could 
be  expected),  and  when  newspaper  and  other  writers  have  to 
browse  so  largely  from  the  genius  and  labor  of  others,  that 
editorials  are  frequently  copied  bodily  as  their  own  (so  that  it 
is  often  difficult  to  know  who  produced  some  piece  of  intellect- 
ual work  and  the  gems  of  genius  that  they  print),  it  would 
therefore  be  presumptuous  for  an  unlettered  homebuilder  on 
the  border,  alone  to  attempt  anything  very  fine  and  glittering 
in  building  his  book ;  and  though  the  most  practical,  valuable 
and  expensive  education  in  the  world  is  that  gotten  by  struggling 
hard  and  long  against  fiends  and  fate,  for  life,  liberty  and  home, 
such  a  life  permits  of  no  leisure  or  condition  of  the  mind  for 
the  culture  of  any  of  its  latent  literary  genius. 

While,  the  mere  kid-gloved  hired  critic  will  smile  over  the 
stacks  of  humbug  effusions  of  his  professional  brethren,  he  will 
sneer  at  this  ill-favored  thing ;  and  ring-black-legs  will  detest 
it,  as  they  do  truth  itself  and  equality  before  the  law.  But 
when  my  case  was  so  cruelly  lied  about  and  I  was  so  persistently 
and  corruptly  held  in  a  secret  bastile  to  be  tortured,  looted  and 
maligned,  (as  I  found  it  to  be  the  case  with  others  also),  and 
was  always  denied  any  hearing,  or  defense,  or  trial,  I  was  left 
no  alternative  by  the  mongrel  gang,  but  was  forced  to  write  my 
life,  and  theirs  also  —wherein  it  imperils  the  life,  liberty  and 
homes  of  the  people. 

(3) 


4  Preface. 

As  to  its  truth,  every  point  and  assertion  of  mine  is  (in  one 
place  and  another)  shown  to  be  so  very  evidently  and  positively 
true,  that  none  but  brazen  members  or  tools  of  the  black  con- 
spiracy will  ever  question  it. 

In  the  language  of  Josephus  :  "Some  apply  themselves  to 
this  part  of  learning  to  show  their  great  skill  in  composition, 
and  that  they  may  therein  acquire  a  reputation  for  speaking 
finely ;  others  there  are  who  of  necessity  and  by  force  are 
driven  to  write  history,  because  they  were  concerned  in  the 
facts,  and  so  cannot  excuse  tliemselves  from  committing  them 
to  writing  for  the  advantage  of  posterity.  Nay,  there  are  not 
a  few  who  are  induced  to  draw  their  historical  facts  out  of 
darkness  into  light,  and  to  produce  them  for  the  benefit  of  the 
public,  on  account  of  the  great  importance  of  the  facts  them- 
selves with  which  they  have  been  concerned ....  I  was  forced 
to  give  the  history  of  it  because  I  saw  that  others  perverted 
the  truth  of  those  actions  in  their  writings.  However,  I  will 
not  go  to  the  other  extreme  out  of  opposition  to  those  men  who 
extol  the  oppressors,  nor  will  I  determine  to  raise  the  actions 
of  my  own  too  high ;  but  I  will  prosecute  the  actions  of  both 
parties  with  accuracy.  Yet  shall  I  suit  my  language  to  the 
passions  I  am  under,  as  to  the  affairs  I  describe,  and  must  be 
allowed  to  indulge  in  some  lamentations  upon  the  miseries 
undergone  by  my  own 

"But  if  any  one  makes  an  unjust  accusation  against  me 
when  I  speak  so  passionately  about  the  tyrants,  or  the  robbers, 
or  sorely  bewail  the  misfortune  of  our  country,  let  him  indulge 
my  affections  herein ....  Because  it  had  come  to  pass,  that  we 
had  arrived  at  a  higher  degree  of  felicity  than  others,  and  yet 
at  last  fell  into  the  sorest  calamities  again ....  But  if  any  one 
be  inflexible  in  his  censures  of  me,  let  him  attribute  the  facts 
themselves  to  the  historical  part,  and  the  lamentations  to  the 
writer  himself  only And  I  have  written  it  down  for  the  sake 


Preface.  5 

of  those  that  love  truth,  but  not  for  those  that  please  them- 
selves with  fictitious  relations." 

"  Yes,  I  have  lost  the  loved,  the  dear ! 

Yes,  I  have  wept  the  bitter  tear ! 

Have  passed  misfortune's  darkest  hour — 

Have  known  and  felt  the  Tempter's  power — 

Have  bowed  to  scorn,  unloved,  alone, 

Longing  for  Fi'iendship's  cheering  tone ! 

Unhappiness  !     I  know  thee,  then — 

So  can  I  help  my  fellow-men !  — Public  Opinion. 

G.   W.   K. 


"If  all  the  scoundrels  who  now  bask  in  the  smiles  of  San  Francisco 
society  were  to  receive  their  just  deserts  for  their  infamous  deeds,  the 
accommodations  at  San  Quentin  and  Folsom  would  be  entirely  too  re- 
stricted. 

We  have  before  taken  occasion  to  define  the  crime  of  "personal  jour- 
nalism." It  is  never  perpetrated  except  against  a  rich  scoundrel.  A 
journal  may  with  perfect  safety  hold  up  to  scorn  the  actions  of  water 
front  biimmers,  or  the  despised  hoodlum.  Turn  to  your  paper  any 
morning  and  evening  and  see  how  oftsn  crime  in  low  places  is  exposed 
and  made  odious  in  a  hundred  different  ways.  Does  any  one  suppose 
that  distinguished  lawyers  would  be  found  to  rail  at  the  practice  so  long 
as  it  was  confined  within  these  limits?  Bah!  The  inquiry  excites  a  smile 
of  derision.  Any  Tom,  Dick  or  Harry  in  the  city  might  be  mentioned, 
and  columns  of  contempt  and  derision  hurled  at  them  without  a  protest 
being  raised.  But,  as  we  have  said  before,  let  a  man  with  a  million  or 
two  of  money  commit  the  most  unpardonable  outrages,  and  be  referred 
to  ever  so  gently,  and  the  pack  start  out  in  full  ciy  yelping  "personal 
journalism. " 

Without  personal  journalism  vice  and  roguery  would  be  sure  to  get 
the  upper  hand  in  modern  times.  Personal  journalism  is  the  bulwark 
reared  against  its  encroachment.  Personal  journahsm  is  only  another 
term  for  the  "rascal's  scourge."  It  will  be  a  sorry  day  for  society  if  the 
assassin's  pistol  or  the  rich  man's  coin  ever  prove  effective  enough  to  stop 
the  hand  engaged  in  the  work  of  making  crime  odious  by  pointing  out  to 
the  public  their  enemies.  Crime  cannot  be  checked  with  a  parable.  Its 
perpetrators  must  be  held  up  to  i^ublic  scorn. " 

San  Francisco  ' 'Chronicle.^' 


"Walla  Walla,  Washington, 

Nov.  25th,  1889. 


TO   WHOM  IT  3IAY  CONCERN:— 

"  I  have  been  personally  acquainted  with  3Ir.  Geo.  W.  France 
for  many  years,  and  hioiv  his  general  reputation  and  standing  in 
this  State  to  he  good,  and  ivhile  it  is  true  that  he  was  at  one  time 
convicted  of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  it  is  now  generally  believed 
that  he  committed  the  homicide  in  necessary  self-defence,  and  is 
innocent  of  any  crime  whaiever.  I  faJce  pleasure  in  bear- 
ing testimony  to  his  uniform  good  character,  both  before  and  since 
this  imfortunate  occurrence,  as  an  honest,  upright,  orderly  and 
laiv-abiding  citizen. 

THOS.   H.   BRENTS." 

[Representative  in  Congress  for  two  terms  from  Wasliiugtou  Teirilorv  ] 


(7) 


UNIVERSITY 


LIST   OK    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Author's  Portrait  -,  -  Frontispiece. 

Oil  Works       ----...  29 

View  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah               -           -            -  43 

The  Mormon  Temple,  Etc.     -           -           -           -           -  49 

Pyramid  Lake,  Utah         -           -           -           -           -  59 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.  ,  from  the  Hill             -                      -  67 

Mexican  Herder    ...           -           -           .  69 

Main  Street  from  Temple  Block,  Los  Angeles    -           -  71 
Chinese  Quarter,  Interior  of  Chinese  Temple 

(Josh  House),  Los  Angeles           -           -           -  73 

Tropical  Plants  and  Historical  Buildings           -           -  75 

Pi-Ute  Indian  Camp,  Nevada       .           ...  79 

A  Canyon           -           -           -           -           -           -           -  101 

Shoshore  Falls,  Snake  River,  Idaho,  260  Feet  High  103 

"I  Hauled  Wood  and  Rails  from  the  Blue  Mountains"  113 

Making  Clapboards           .           .           .           .           .  117 

Multnoma  Falls,  Columbia  River,  Oregon           -           -  125 

My  First  Outfit     -           -           -           -           -           -  131 

My  First  House           -           -           -           -           -           -  139 

Land  Office  Receipt        .           .           .           .           .  144 

United  States  Land  Patent             ....  149 

An  Indian  Village            -           -           -           -           -  157 

An  Indian  Massacre               -           -           -           -           -  179 

School  Land  Lease           -----  21G 

School  Land  Receipt              -           -           -           -           -  217 

Defending  My  Life  and  Home    -           -           -           -  233 

The  Seatco  Bastile     -           -           -           -                       -  249 

A  Sick  Prisoner    ------  271 

Prisoners  at  the  Bastile  Going  to  Work — Drunken 

Guard 277- 

Penalty  for  Exposing  the  Tortures  of  the  Secret 

Bastile    -     -     -     -     -     -  283 

City  of  Sitka,  Alaska            -----  459 


COKTKNTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Striking  out  from  home  when  a  boy, — My  object. — Ho !  For 
the  Oil  Regions  in  Pennsylvania. — My  Chum. — Great  Excitement. 
— Oil  City  flooded. — "Coal  Oil  Johnny." — Tools,  etc.,  used  iu  bor- 
ing for  oil. — All  about  finding  oil. — And  what  the  oil  is. — My  ex- 
perience for  about  a  year. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Leaving  the  OH  Regions  for  a  good  time  "  Out  West." — A 
period  of  travel,  etc.,  of  four-and-a-half  months  to  the  Missouri 
River — Then  crossing  the  plains  to  Salt  Lake  with  wagon  train 
in  60  days. — Our  train,  etc.;  my  team,  etc.;  first  camp  in  a  storm. 
— Fording  the  Platte  river  with  its  quicksand  bottom ;  big  teams, 
etc.  My  first  drink ;  delusion  in  distance ;  game,  etc. — Freighting; 
life  and  government  on  the  plains. — A  comprehensive  account  of 
the  region  from  the  Missoui-i  River  to  Salt  Lake  Valley. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

Salt  Lake  City  and  Valley. — Salt  Lake  ;  cUmate  and  bathing. 
— Remained  a  month. — Then  made  a  trip  of  a  month  on  the  plains. 
Caught  in  a  blizzard. — Sixty-two  frozen  mules  for  breakfast,  Oct. 
14th. — A  rough  tramp  in  the  snow,  180  miles  back  to  Salt  Lake. 
— Dreaming  of  home. — As  to  the  hardships  of  trains  snow-bound 
in  the  mountains.  -  Work  for  a  Mormon  dignitary. — The  "Mighty 
Host  of  Ziou." — How  they  whipped  Johnson's  U.  S.  Army  in  1861, 
etc.,  etc. — Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  etc.,  etc. — Leave  Salt  Lake 
on  horse-back  for  St.  George,  350  miles  south;  takes  a  mouth. 
— Mormon  farms  and  villages ;  their  system  of  settlement,  etc.  — 
CHmate,  soil,  mountains,  etc. — A  month  in  St.  George  as  "Dodge's 
Clerk." — On  an  Indian  raid.  — Made  a  trip  to  the  extreme  southern 
settlements. — What  for?— Cotton  country.— Mountain  of  rock 
salt.— A  true,  comprehensive  description  of  the  Mormons;  how 
they  live  and  deal  with  each  other  and  with  Gentiles;  their 
religion  and  government;  as  they  really  are  iu  practice;  their 
virtues,  crimes  and  danger. 


(11) 


12  Contents. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Travelers  I  met  in  Utah.— Leave  Utah  for  the  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.,  country.— The  company  I  travel  with. — Danites.— The  In- 
dians on  the  road. — A  Mormon  "miracle." — Indian  dialect. — Sand 
storm.  A  mine  in  the  desert.— The  region  from  St.  George  to 
California. — Arizona. — San  Bernardino,  Los  Angeles,  and  that 
country. — Climate,  soil,  people  and  business  in  1867  and  1884. — 
Land,  titles,  etc 


CHAPTER  V. 

Leave  Los  Angeles  for  a  new  mining  camp  in  Nevada.— The 
stock  of  a  train  captured  by  Indians. — "Death  Valley." — Eighty- 
seven  families,  stock,  etc.,  perish. — The  surrounding  region  and 
its  products. — How  teamsters  are  revenged. — Comprehensive  des- 
cription of  the  mining  camp,  etc. — Hurrah  !  Hurrah ! !  We  have 
struck  it,  Hurrah! !  ! — A  big  Indian. — How  Mining  Co's.  officials 
steal.— Indian  and  white  man  hung,  etc. — The  mode  of  govern- 
ment and  trial;  wages,  living,  business,  etc. — The  geological 
formation  of  mineral  lodes,  veins,  fissures,  etc.,  and  placer  mines. 
Prospecting  for  and  locating  claims.  —  The  right  time  to  sell,  etc. 
— Why  mines  are  guarded  with  rifles.  —  How  stock  companies 
operate. — Why  newspaper  accounts  of  mines  are  not  reliable.  — 
The  real  prices  paid  for  mines.  -  How  stock,  etc.,  is  made  to  seU. 
— One-and-a-half  year's  experience. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  mines,  continued. — Exciting  reports  from  a  distant  moun- 
tain.— I  outfit  one  of  a  party  to  go.  —What  he  wrote  me. — "  Ho  ! 
for  White  Pine ! " — The  richest  silver  mine  ever  discovered. — The 
pure  stuff. — I  go,  too, — Visit  another  camp  on  the  way.— My  horse 
and  saddle  "  borrowed."  -  A  big  camp  ablaze  with  excitement. — 
Belief  that  the  stuff  could  be  found  anywhere  by  digging. — The 
many  thousand  "mines."— "Brilliant  schemes."  Blubbering  in- 
vestors from  the  States. — Life  :  gambling,  drinking,  business  and 
damnation. — Making  big  sales,. etc.;  the  outcome. — Another  year 
and  a  half  of  lively  practical  experience  in  the  mines. — The  many 
smaller  camps  in  the  surrounding  region. — Virginia  City  and  Gold 
HiU — The  great  Comstock  lode.— The  Bonanza  and  other  great 
stock  gambling  mines  that  we  read  of. 


Contents.  13 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Building  the  U.  P.  and  Central  railroads. — A  general  rugged 
prospecting  tour  of  seven  months  in  Nevada,  Idaho  and  Montana. 
— On  to  Washington  Territory.  -  The  country,  climate,  soil, 
scenery,  fishing,  hunting,  incidents,  etc.,  etc. — Finding  the  true 
source  of  the  fine  gold  in  the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers, — The 
more  famous  of  the  Idaho  Placer  mines. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A  comprehensive  description  of  the  WaUa  Walla  country; 
soil,  climate  and  productions  and  the  lay  of  the  land.  -  Hire  out  on 
a  farm  for  two  months.— The  secret  of  success  and  failure  in 
government  and  coj-poration  contracts. — Secret  intrigue  at  military 
posts,  etc. — Experience  in  work  in  the  mountains.— Locate  a  land 
claim  and  get  married  — A  year's  experience. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Brief  description  of  Eastern  and  Western  Washington  and  of 
the  various  sections  in  each ;  their  industries  and  inducements, 
advantages  and  disadvantages. 


CHAPTER  X. 
History  of  the  settling  of  the  Walla  Walla  country. — Report 
of  government  experts  as  to  the  soil. — Packing  to  the  mines  of 
Idaho,  etc. — The  market  and  opportunities. — The  outlook  in  1870 
when  I  landed  there. — The  country  grasped  by  its  throat;  the 
government  prostituted. — 1000  miles  of  river  navigation  to  the 
sea  strangled,  and  the  tribute  that  was  levied. — The  result. — The 
promised  railroad,  etc. — First  land  claim  I  located. — Life  in  the 
beginning  of  a  home  ;  dangers  and  draw-backs. — My  first  outfit. — 
Sell  my  claim ;  hunt  for  and  locate  another  in  a  new  wild  section; 
description  of  it  and  the  locality. — My  Indian  neighbors;  how 
they  treated  the  first  white  men  they  ever  saw. — A  homebuildei-'s 
land  rights  and  what  he  must  necessarily  endure  in  carving  a 
home  in  a  wilderness.  —Warned  of  the  perplexities,  conspiracies 
and  treason  to  be  planted  in  the  way. — How  we  started  out  to 
build  a  good  and  spacious  home;  our  first  house,  etc. — Travelling, 
moving  and  camping  in  the  west.  —  25  miles  to  blacksmith's  shop, 


14  Contents. 

etc. — The '' Egypt"  for  supplies. — Land  claims  located  about  us 
aud  abandoned,  are  re-located  by  others  time  and  again. — My  first 
crop;  big,  black,  hungry  crickets,  one  hundred  bushels  to  the 
acre. — So  that  we  are  left  alone  in  the  "France  Settlement." — The 
section  surveyed  and  I  ''  file  my  claim."— Raise  hogs ;  the  result ; 
also  get  a  band  of  cattle;  experience  on  the  range.  —Getting  roads 
opened,  etc. — First  railroad  in  Eastern  Washington.  -  Struggling 
for  a  livelihood  and  home ;  how  I  managed. — Other  new  settle- 
ments and  people;  how  they  done. — ''Land  hunters." — "Prove 
up ";  pay  for  and  get  j^atent  for  pre-emption  claim  and  take  a 
homestead  claim  adjoining. — Copy  of  United  States  patent. — How 
we  just  loped  along  and  ahead  of  the  country. — It  settles  up. — 
New  county;  towns,  etc.,  built;  settlers  swindled;  build  school 
house,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

An  Indian  war. — Neighboring  Indians  go  on  the  warpath ;  the 
reason.  -Description  of  their  domain;  their  horses  and  cattle. — 
A  job  on  Uncle  Sam. — How  they  plead  for  their  country.  —"Earth 
governed  by  the  sun,"  etc. — Whom  they  killed. — How  they  marched 
and  fought. — Settlers  either  stampede  or  gather  in  fortresses. — 
Efforts  made  by  men  to  have  other  tribes  break  out. — For  plunder. 
— What  an  Indian  must  do  to  become  a  citizen. — How  Indian 
claims  are  jumped. — What  the  Indian  was  before  the  advent  of 
the  Whites. — Their  government,  pursuits,  etc. — What  fire-arms 
and  whiskey  done  for  them. — How  they  started  fire,  lived  and 
died ;  their  religion, — How  to  improve  the  Indian. — "A  cry  ot  the 
soul." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Indians,  continued. — Joseph. — White  Bird. —  Looking  glass 
and  Indians  generally. — The  White  Bird  fight. — These  Indians  in 
early  days ;  their  flocks,  herds  and  fine  farms. — The  result  of  the 
war  to  the  Indians. — "Cold-blooded  treachery." — How  Chief 
Joseph  treated  white  prisoners. — "  The  glory  of  the  West." — Col. 
Steptoe's  defeat. — "For  God's  sake,  give  me  something  to  kill  my- 
self with." — The  others  saved  by  other  Indians. — An  Ingrate. — 
Col.  Wright's  victory ;  G20  horses  butchered.— How  Wright  treated 
Indian  prisoners.  — "  The  Chief  Moses  outrage." — "  Mystery." 
—$70,000,000  squandered  by  the  gang. 


Contents.    "  15 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Indians,  concluded. — "  The  Waiilatpu  massacre. — The  thrilling 
story  of  one  who,  as  a  girl,  was  an  eye  witness,  and  then  taken 
away  as  a  prisoner. —  Forebodings  of  the  murderous  outbreak. 
— Friendly  warnings  given. — The  dying  hours  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
"Whitman." — Mission  life  among  the  Indians. — As  the  Indians 
were  in  1852 ;  and  then  in  1856. — Death  of  Chief  Kanaskat. — How 
Indians  are  preserved.— How  ''civilization"  was  introduced  to  the 
natives  of  South  and  Central  America. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
Home  building  narrative  resumed. — Improve  homestead  claim 
as  I  had  the  other. — The  market,  etc. — My  herds  of  cattle,  horses, 
hogs,  etc. — Great  prosperity. — Railroads  built  from  tide  water; 
freights,  etc. —  Immigration. — Further  enlargement  of  my  home 
and  business  by  leasing,  fencing  and  breaking  a  quarter  section  of 
school  land. — Copy  of  the  lease  and  receipt  for  second  year's  pay- 
ment on  the  same. — The  law  and  custom  as  to  it. — Confirmed  by 
Congress. — Serve  as  county  road  viewer  and  on  first  grand  jury 
of  Columbia  County,  and  learn  something.— Road  supervisor  of  a 
twenty-mile  district. — A  review,  and  what  I  have  learned  about 
farming,  etc. — The  best  economy  while  "  serpents  are  at  the  udder." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Land  jumping. — First  serious  case  in  the  "  France  settlement." 
— Our  graveyard  started. — The  '^  poor  man's  friend." — Street  fight 
with  a  jumper.  -  "Hurrah  for  Whetstone  Hollow."  Public  senti- 
ment as  to  such  cases.— When  the  courts  and  press  stand  in  with 
the  people,  and  when  against  them. — Land  sharks. — How  petty 
thieves  are  shot  down  with  impunity. — Home  wreckers ;  how  my 
prosperity  made  me  an  object  of  envy  and  ravage.— A  murderous 
conspii'acy  by  gentlemen  with  great  influence  at  court  to  jump  my 
pre-emption  and  school  land  portions  of  my  well-earned,  improved 
and  stocked  home. — The  Ipng  pretexts  that  were  invented  and 
used  as  a  blind  ;  jump  all  the  water,  etc.,  on  my  place. — "If  you 
want  any  water,  dig  for  it ! " — Wanted  to  get  me  into  their  courts. 
— How  I  repossessed  my  own. — "Will  fix  you  by  helping  H. . 
jump  youi"  school  land  !  " — How  I  had  befriended  them. — "Damned 
be  he  who  first  cries  hold  :  enough !  " — Tries  to  drive  me  off  Avith 
a  gun,  etc. — How  we  get  better  acquainted;  get  friendly  and  he 


16  Contents. 

agi-ees  to  quit. — How  I  was  performing  my  homage  against  a 
lurking  foe. — His  object. — Is  set  to  resume  the  conflict. — "An  out- 
rage for  one  man  to  own  all  the  land,  and  the  water  too." — "WiU 
settle  it  with  an  ounce  of  lead,"  etc. — Boasts  of  his  backing  and 
influence. — "We  will  make  it  hot  as  hell  for  you  now." — "  I  have 
taken  your  school  land,  E — ,  your  pre-emption,  and  by  G — d  !  we 
will  soon  have  a  man  on  your  homestead  !  " — A  man  loans  me  his 
pistol  for  defense,  and  then  eggs  on  the  jumper. — The  lying  gang. 
— "  But  truth  shall  conquer  at  the  last." — Jumper's  many  wicked 
threats. — Try  to  have  him  bound  over  to  keep  the  peace. — My 
instructions  from  the  peace  officer. — "  Be  prepared  to  defend  your- 
self and  sow  the  ground." — He  loans  me  seed  for  the  purpose. — 
"  There  comes  [Jumper]  now  with  a  gun!  " — "Let  us  go  out  and 
see  what  he  is  going  to  do  with  it." — "  I  don't  care  a  damn  what 
he  does  with  it." — How  he  followed  me  around  the  field  with  a 
cocked  carbine  in  both  hands. — Quits  and  has  a  secret  conference 
with  the  man  who  did  not  care  a  damn  what  he  done  with  his  gun. 
— "  I  ask  you  as  a  friend  and  neighbor  to  quit  sowing  wheat  and 
leave  the  field,  for  there  is  going  to  be  trouble ! " — "  Look  out  for 
him,  now!" — Belches  out  at  the  end  of  a  stream  of  profanity, 
"  turn  back !  leave  the  field !  and  don't  come  back  nary  time  ! " — 
"I  will  fix  you!"  crac/c,  bang/ — "I  wiU  kill  you!"  crack,  bang/ — 
I  return  the  fire  in  rapid  succession,  thus  saving  my  life. — Positive, 
certain,  incontrovertible  proof  as  to  the  same. — How  he  missed  me  by  a 
scratch! — "There,  France  is  shot!" — The  lying  gang. — "Where 
logic  is  invented  and  wrong  is  called  right." — Am  charged  with 
murder! — The  would-be  assassin,  home  ravager  and  ravishfr  is 
shielded,  venerated  and  revenged  by  his  gang. — "  If  by  this  means 
we  further  our  cause,  the  private  assassin  deserves  our  applause." 
— Am  thrown  into  jail  without  a  hearing. — Held  in  jail  near  ten 
months  begging  and  demanding  a  trial;  can  never  get  either  a 
trial  or  hearing. — "  Virtue  distressed "  could  get  no  protection 
here. — Am  betrayed,  sold  and  given  away. — "  His  glories  lost,  his 
cause  Betrayed  ! " — Shanghaied  to  the  gang's  Bastile  in  double 
irons. — "Oh  !  'twas  too  much,  too  dreadful  to  endure !" — "He  jests  at 
scars  that  never  felt  a  wound !  " — "  Is  this  then,"  thought  the 
youth,  "is  this  the  way  to  free  man's  spirit  from  the  deadening 
sway  of  worldly  sloth ;  to  teach  him  while  he  lives  to  know  no 
bliss  but  that  which  virtue  gives  ? " — Examples  of  other  cases,  and 
what  the  law  is. — My  case  as  established,  and  the  law,  etc.,  as  to 
the  same. 


Contents.  17 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  pilgrimage  throug'li  hell ! — Seven  years'  experience  in  the 
Seateo  contract  bastile ;  the  kind  of  a  hell  and  s-vdndle  this  was ; 
how  1  was  taken  there ;  a  three  or  four  days  joiu'ney  by  wagon, 
boat  and  rail. — How  I  was  judged  by  people  on  the  road. — Sym- 
pathy.— "  Either  innocent  of  crime  or  a  very  bad  man." — The  set 
questions  asked  by  those  who  had  suffered  likewise. — Description 
of  the  bastile. — How  I  was  impressed. — The  land  of  jDCople  I  found 
the  prisoners  to  be,  and  the  officials. — Plow  they  were  employed. — 
What  they  had  done  and  what  they  had  not  done;  their  com- 
plaints, etc. — Jumping  away. — The  crooked  and  rocky  road  to 
liberty. — Who  got  there  and  how. — The  inquisition  of  the  mind. — 
How  prisoners  are  driven  to  the  frenzy  of  despair  and  death. — 
What  they  earned  and  were  worth  to  the  gang. — What  it  cost  the 
people. — What  they  got  to  eat  and  wear. — How  they  were  treated 
when  well  and  when  sick. — The  punishments. — How  I  was  engag- 
ed while  in  the  midst  of  flaming  desolation. — Crazy  prisoners. — 
The  good  and  bad  qualities  and  conduct  of  the  officials. — The  re- 
deeming feature  of  the  institution. — The  different  nationalities 
and  occupations  represented  and  their  experiences. — One  of  the 
Polaris'  crew;  six  months  on  an  ice  floe. — The  good,  bad  and 
mixed;  the  innocent,  guilty  and  the  victims  of  circumstances, 
whiskey  and  accidents. — Inequality  of  sentences  and  treatment. 
— Robbing  the  cradle  and  the  grave  for  seventy  cents  a  day. — 
How  they  lived  and  died. — The  censorship  on  correspondence  and 
the  real  object  of  the  same. — A  secret  prison. — Shanghaied 
prisoners  trj^  to  make  their  cases  known  to  the  public. — How  the 
Governor  stood  in  with  the  gang. — Letters  smuggled  by  ministers, 
members  of  the  Legislature,  humane  guards,  etc. — Squelching 
letters  of  vital  importance. — "Damn  you,  you  can't  j^^ove  it." — 
Like  abuses  in  the  insane  asylum. — The  remedy. — A  i)lea  that  any 
prisonei  shall  ai  least  he  accorded  a  public  hearing,  and  let  the  People 
judge. — The  worst  criminals  not  in  prison,  but  in  office ;  their 
victims  crushed. — A  pet  prisoner  turned  in  with  a  bottle  of  whis- 
key and  a  pistol  in  his  pockets. — The  visiting  preachers;  what 
they  thought  of  the  prisoners  and  of  the  officials. — One  that  was 
a  thorough-bred ;  would  fight  the  devil  in  any  guise ;  what  he  done 
for  reform  and  how  he  was  bounced. — Can  wTite  to  him  yourself. 
— Cruel  deception. — False  and  cheating  hopes. — "There  is  France, 
if  he  had  not  been  so  anxious  about  getting  home,  he  would  have 
been  out  long  ago." — "  Must  keep  still  and  not  bore  anybody." — 

2 


18  CONI ENTS. 

Eolo  the  sdll  an(J  mrel-  Ia)iginshed  and  diid! — How  other  prisoners 
were  shanghaied. — "Bad  conduct." — My  conduct;  strikes,  etc. — 
How  officials  are  interested  against  a  prisoner's  justice. — How 
''heaven  is  sometimes  just  and  pays  us  back  in  measures  that  we 
mete." — How  prisoners  are  robbed.— Women  prisoners  and  how 
they  were  treated. — Visits  of  the  legishiture,  etc. — A  ijrisoner 
makes  a  great  speech  and  his  teeth  are  pulled  out  for  the  trouble 
it  makes  the  officials. — What  the  legislature  said  and  what  they 
did. — The  pardoning  power  and  how  it  was  exercised. — The  lie. — 
That  "to  hear  prisoners  talk  they  are  all  innocent." — Eeading 
matter,  etc. — How  to  control  prisoners. — How  they  get  revenge. — 
HoAV  prisoners  should  be  treated. — Where  they  should  be  kei)t. — 
How  a  prison  should  be  conducted  to  be  self-supporting  and  to 
reform  those  who  need  reforming. — How  to  enforce  the  sacred 
right  of  petition  and  the  sober  second  thought  of  the  people. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Prison  experience,  continued. — My  personal  efforts  and  that 
of  my  friends  for  my  release  from  the  Bastile,  for  some  kind  of  a 
trial,  and  for  only  a  respectful  hearing. — The  result,  etc. — "Truth 
wears  no  mask,  bows  at  no  human  shrine,  seeks  neither  place  nor 
applause,  she  only  asks  a  hearing." — Letters  of  my  Tvife ;  governors, 
judges,  and  various  other  persons,  and  correspondence. — Petitions, 
recommendations,  etc.,  etc.,  and  how  they  were  treated,  etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Prison  experience,  continued — An  epitome  of  my  life,  ease  and 
trouble  addressed  to  Governor  and  people.— The  only  argument  and 
summing  up  of  my  case  that  was  ever  made. — The  frank  but  fruit- 
less wail  for  justice  and  humanitj^  by  a  victim ;  shanghaied,  ravaged 
and  languishing  in  prison. — "  Let  thy  keen  glance  his  life  search 
through,  and  bring  his  actions  in  review,  for  actions  speak  the 
man." — "While  love  and  peace  and  social  joy  were  there.  Oh, 
peace !  oh,  social  joy  !  Oh,  heaven-born  love  !  Were  these  your 
haunts,  where  murderous  demons  rovef  Distinction  neat  and 
nice,  which  lie  between  the  poison'd  chalice  and  the  stab  unseen." 


Contents.  19 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Prison  experience,  concluded. — Efforts  to  get  my  case  before 
the  Supreme  Court. — Copious  extracts  from  my  diary  kept  in 
prison. — "Considering  my  case." — "Seeing  about  it,"  etc.,  etc. — 
My  appeals  to  Legislatures,  the  President,  Congress,  etc. — How 
changes  in  Governors,  etc.,  are  disscussed  by  prisoners. — Prisoners 
that  were  shanghaied  and  never  convicU  d. — How  I  established  my 
good  conduct  against  the  lying  gang. — The  "  good  Judiciary." — 
Efforts  of  and  for  other  prisoners,  and  results. — Removal  to  Walla 
"Walla. — My  release,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Tragedies. — Land  jumping,  etc. — Experience  of  other  men. — 
More  of  real  life  and  death  in  the  Northwest. — What  was  transpir- 
ing with  other  people  while  and  since  I  was  languishing  in  prison 
for  defending  my  life  and  home  against  the  gang. — All  of  these 
were  either  acquitted  of  any  crime,  or  not  even  indicted  or 
troubled. — The  glaring  contrast. — "Uneasy  settlers." — "A  pro- 
tective association ;"  "land  jumping;"  "put-up  jobs;"  "homes im- 
perilled;" "  shooting  affair;"  "Vigilantes;"  "murderous  assault  by 
a  band  of  midnight  assassins;"  "high  handed." — "With  pride  in 
their  port,  defiance  in  their  eye,  we  see  the  secret  lurking  lords  of 
human  kind  pass  by." — "Lynching;"  "people  arming;"  "a danger- 
ous man ;"  "land  troubles;"  "  a  tramp  boom  ;"  "killed  for  robbing 
sluice  boxes ;"  "  laying  in  wait  to  kill ;"  filled  with  shot ;  killing 
three  men  for  a  few  dollars. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

Land  troubles,  etc.,  continued. — "  The  Riparian  fight." — On 
Puget  Sound. — Shooting  for  the  tide  lands. — A  woman  defending 
her  claim. — Dynamite. — Vigilantes  by  the  thousand. — Big  money 
for  the  Court  gang. — Lawyers  instigating  a  fight. — Land  jumping. 

—  Coroner's  inquests. — "  Defective"  land   titles. — A  trick   of  the 
Court  gang. — "I  tell  you  again  to  stop  plowing." — Crack!   Bang! 

—  Why  government  lands  are  classified  when  they  are  all  good  for 
homes  if  good  for  anything. — The  Court  "bar"  (gang)  organizes 

trouble. "  Be  ready." —  "  Parasites." — "  Citizens  arming." — Who 

gets  90  per  cent,  of  all  plunder. 


20  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Sample  tragedy  cases  in  the  Northwest,  in  brief,  concluded.  — 
What  members  of  the  gang  can  do  to  others  with  impunity.  Vic- 
tims that  were  not  venerated  or  sanctij&ed  by  the  gang. — About 
Land. — "  Shot  him  dead." —  Stabbed  him  to  the  heart. — Stabbed 
him  in  tlie  head. — Shot  down  in  cold  blood. — The  Court  burnt  in 
effigy,  and  why. — '^A  dark  scheme." — "This  is  not  the  first  time 
I  have  had  to  face  lead  to  protect  my  rights." — "Served  the  fiend 
right." — Shooting  a  man  down  in  cold  blood  for  a  few  dollars. — 
Killing  a  man  for  alleged  threats  to  burn  his  house. — "  The  hero 
of  the  hour."  Etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 
The  courts  and  laws  of  Washington  and  Alaska. — Women  as 
jurors,  etc. — "The  infamous  decision,"  etc.,  etc. — "Complaints  of 
Court." — "A  novel  ruling,"  etc. 


CHAPTER   XXIY. 
The  courts  and  laws  of  Oregon,  Montana  and  British  Colum- 
bia, etc, 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
The  courts  and  laws  of  California  and  the  States,  etc. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 
Big  land  steals  in  Washington. — "80  percent,  of  the  entries 
in  one  district  fraudulent." — How  this  is  accomplished,  and  who 
can  do  it  with  impunity. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Big  land  steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. — How  it  is  done 
there. — "In  a  valley,  30  miles  long,  ditches  were  dug  from  the 
stream,  dams  built,  the  land  flooded,  and  then  taken  up  by  the 
gang  as  '  swamp  land,' "  etc. — This  is  why  land  is  classified. — 
Brazen  perjury,  and  nobody  punished. — The  reason. — Wagon  road 
swindles,  etc. — Sink  artesian  wells  to  irrigate  "  swamp  land,"  etc. 
— "Three-fourths  of  the  land  titles  fraudulent." — Murdering  home- 
builders. 


Contents.  21 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Railroads,  big  grants,  etc.,  in  the  Northwest,  etc. — How  they 
are  worked.  What  they  cost  the  gangs. — What  they  control. — A 
servile  and  purchased  press. — Advice  to  settlers. — What  a  "  terri- 
torial pioneer"  says. —  WJiat  the  jjeojjle  say. — ''Awake!  arise!  or  be 
forever  fallen  I " 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
As  to  the  martial  law  trouble  in  protecting  highbinder  China- 
men and  white  criminals  on  Puget  Sound,when  American  citizens 
were  pillaged,  murdered  and  driven  out  with  no  troops  to  protect 
them. — Vigilance  committee. — "Justice  blinded  with  a  vengeance." 
Judge  Lynch,  and  how  he  judged. — Death  from  j)overty,  etc.  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  Tartaric  horde  vs.  American  Citizens. — "A  crisis." — 
"  To  the  thinking  man,"  "  even  to  those  who  do  not  think." — The 
Anti-Chinese  Congress,  etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Anti-Chinese. — "  A  great  demonstration  at  Seattle ;  the  larg- 
est ever  seen  in  the  teiTitory." — Making  fish  of  one  set  of  citizens 
and  fowl  of  another,  etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  Tacoma  trouble  and  the  Exodus. — Statement  of  promi- 
nent citizens. — "  Truth  and  justice  buried,  and  fraud  and  guile 
succeed,"  etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Captain  of  the  Queen's  story  as  to  the  Seattle  Exodus. — 
Ninety-seven  Chinamen  in  court. — "The  Government  is  strong 
and  will  protect"  [secret  highbinders  with  influence  at  court,]  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
"Home  Guards"  fire  into  the  crowd ;  five  men  wounded;  one 
dies. — "  Shot  down  in  cold  blood.'" — Charged  with  murder,  etc. — 


22  Contents. 

The  City  of  Seattle  under  martial  law. — Drive  out  white  citizens 
and  protect  Chinese  highbinders. — "Military  headquarters,"  etc. 
— Unmeasured  gall. — Blackstone  on  martial  law. — "  Treason  doth 
never  prosper,  what's  the  reason  ?  Why  if  it  prosper,  none  dare 
call  it  treason." — 'Truth  forever  on  the  scaffold,  T^Tong  forever  on 
the  throne." 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Coui't  Martial  and  a  Military  Commission  with  a  Judge-Ad- 
vocate and  Recot-der  now  under  eight  indictments  for  forgery  and 
robbery. — Crime  made  respectable,  and  to  tell  the  truth  is  made  a 
crime. — "An  authentic  account." — It  is  the  weakest,  not  the  worst, 
that  goes  to  the  wall. — United  States  troops,  etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

The  judgment  of  the  people  and  of  the  Supreme  Court. — The 
martial  law  "mere  lawless  violence" ;  but  "  the  trail  of  the  serpent 
is  over  them  all." 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

A  brief,  comprehensive  and  practical  history  of  Masonry, 
Knight  Templars  of  Malta,  St.  John,  Hospitalers,  etc. — The 
Crusades  to  possess  the  Holy  Land;  Egypt,  etc. — How  Jerusalem 
and  Acre  were  taken  and  re-taken. — Why  the  Holy  Land  was 
made  a  desert. — The  practical  workings  of  the  Masonry  and 
kindred  Orders  of  to-day. 

— Mostly  the  testimony  of  others,  as  taken  from  books  and 
the  press. 


CHAPTER  I. 

striking  out  from  liome  when  a  boy. — My  object. — Ho  !  For  the  Oil 
Regions  in  Pennsylvania. — My  Chum. — Great  Excitement.- — Oil  City 
flooded. — "Coal  Oil  Johnny." — Tools,  etc.,  used  in  boring  for  oil. — 
All  about  finding  oil. — And  what  the  oil  is. — My  experience  for  about 
a  year. 

In  the  winter  of  1864-65  I  concluded  to  leave  mj  home  in  New 
York  for  an  indefinite  time ;  not  exactly  to  hunt  buffalo  and  kill 
Indians  on  the  plains,  for  killing-  was  never  sport  to  me,  and  I 
was  not  'wild,'  nor  to  seek  my  fortune  ;  for  at  that  time  this  did 
not  appear  necessary,  though  I  expected  to  earn  by  work  my 
living  and  travelling  expenses,  and  more,  if  I  run  on  to  any 
great  opportunity  to  do  so.  My  object  was  to  see  and  know 
more  of  the  living,  bustling,  wild  and  wide  world,  than  what 
transpired  in  the  drowsy  orthodox  range  in  which  I  was 
confined. 

My  parents  tried  to  dissuade  and  divert  me  from  my  jDur- 
pose,  but,  as  I  had  set  my  heart  on  it,  they  neither  strenuously 
opposed  me  nor  did  they  give  any  formal  consent ;  but  left 
the  field  clear  for  my  return  as  the  prodigal  son  of  old,  which 
they  prophesied  I  would  soon  do,  for  them  to  say  "did  I  not 
tell  you  so,  my  boy,"  and  to  lessen  the  sting  of  adieu. 

Little  did  I  then  think  I  was  never  to  see  them  any  more 
in  this  world,  or  know  the  terrible  pangs  of  grief  I  would  suffer 
when  we  really  kissed  each  other  good  bye,  and  that  the 
thought  of  that  sad  event  would  haunt  me,  and  make  me  sick 
at  times,  for  many  years  to  come. 

A  young  friend  was  to  ramble  with  me,  and  we  started 
March  13th,  1865.  The  oil  regions  in  Pennsylvania  was  our 
first  destination,  as  there  were  many  fabulous  stories  afioat, 
and  much  excitement  about  oil  at  that  time,  to  such  an  extent, 
that  poor  men  at  a  distance  were  mortgaging  their  homes  to 
buy  stock  in  oil  companies  (or  confidence  games)  then  being 
worked  and  played  to  catch  the  unwary ;  and  wages  and  em- 
ployment there  were  reputed  as  high  and  abundant. 

At  the  end  of  the  third  day  we  arrived  by  rail  at  the  end 
of  the  track — then  about  a  mile  from  Oil  City.     We  jumped  off 

(23j 


2-i  Striking  Out  From  Home. 

into  the  mud  ana  oil  a  foot  or  two  deep,  and  waded  through  it 
in  the  dark  to  town  and  to  a  hotel  (could  have  ridden  for  two 
dollars). 

The  next  day  it  was  raining;  teams  were  stuck  in  the  street, 
loaded   with   but   a   few  hundred  pounds. 

Teaming  (hauling  oil,  coal,  lumber,  machinery,  etc.,)  was 
a  great  business  in  the  oil  regions  at  that  time.  The  price 
of  single  teams  and  wagon  with  driver  was  twenty  dollars  per 
day  or  more,  and  they  made  forty  dollars  per  day  in  handling 
flat  boats  in  and  up  Oil  Creek.  Drivers  were  rated  at  fifty 
dollars  per  month,  and  no  one  envied  their  pay  or  position. 
The  vast  amount  of  dead  horses  lying  about  or  floating  down 
the  Creek,  the  number  of  broken  wagons  in  sight,  together 
with  the  high  price  of  stable  room,  feed,  etc.,  showed  that  it 
was  not  all  profit.  Yet  there  was  big  money  in  the  business 
to  those  whom  such  drawbacks  were  not  discouraging,  but 
were  taken  as  a  matter  of  course. 

A  scene  on  the  road  : — A  team  loaded  with  oil  stuck  in  a 
mud  hole  full  of  big  boulders  and  blocking  the  way  for  tAventy 
teams  behind ;  the  driver  asks  the  nearest  ''what  will  you  take 
to  pull  me  out?"  "Nothing  for  that,  but  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  for  hitching  on  in  the  mud." 

In  time  roads  were  made,  feed,  stable  room,  etc.,  got  cheap 
and  handy,  when,  as  there  was  nothing  frightful  in  the  business, 
everybody  was  willing  to  engage  in  it,  and  nobody  made  much 
in  the  business  any  more. 

Next  came  railroads,  and  then,  in  time,  pipe-lines  were 
added  for  conveying  oil. 

Crowds  of  disgusted  and  home-sick  men  having  failed  to 
find  employment,  and  short  of  money,  told  discouraging  stories 
to  us — they  were  discouraging  to  us  then,  to  be  sure,  because 
of  our  inexperience  in  the  world,  otherwise  we  would  have 
critically  gathered  useful  and  encouraging  information  instead. 

However,  my  chum  concluded  during  the  day  that  he  had 
rambled  far  enough  from  his  good  old  home  and  that  we  were 
^,bout  lost,  too,  and  having  now  been  absent  for  several  whole 
days  and  nights,  and  remembering  that  his  pet  mare  was  liable 
to  have  a  colt  with  none  to  caress  them,  and  corn  planting  time 
would  soon  be  on  hand  with  his  vacant  place  to  fill,  he  reluct- 


The  Oil  Regions.  25 


antlj  left  me  to  my  self-willed  fate  and  returned  home  to  his 
mother — and  he  was  about  ri^^ht. 

As  neither  of  us  had  any  trade,  and  common  labor  appeared 
very  rugged  and  abundantly  supplied,  and  not  having  any 
money,  letters  of  acquaintance,  or  other  means  by  which  we 
could  engage  in  some  one  or  another  of  the  business  opportun- 
ities, the  outlook,  indeed,  was  not  brilliant  or  strewn  with  roses. 
But  I  had  not  expected  it  would  be ;  I  had  not  counted  on 
getting  a  berth  as  conductor  as  we  travelled  along,  as  clerk  at  a 
hotel  wherever  we  happened  to  stop  for  a  few  days,  or  as  con- 
fidential agent  for  some  big  concern,  on  sight  and  application; 
nor  yet  the  gift  of  a  team,  flat-boat,  brewery  or  oil-well,  as  an 
inducement  to  stop  a  few  months  when  we  got  there. 

Leaving  my  cumbrous  valise  at  the  hotel  I  struck  out 
among  the  oil-wells  to  see  what  I  could  see,  learn  and  discover. 
The  rain  storm  continued,  resulting  in  a  flood ;  Oil  Creek  rose 
to  a  river  and  with  the  Alleghany  inundated  the  town  of  Oil 
City  to  the  extent  that  those  living  in  the  business  and  lower 
portion  had  to  move  upstairs  in  the  night,  the  street  was  over- 
flowed, and  the  public  buildings,  churches,  etc.,  were  occupied 
with  those  who  were  entirely  drowned  out. 

Returning  the  following  day,  I  found  my  valise  in  five  or 
six  feet  of  water — all  being  confusion  and  havoc,  as  water  was 
king,  and  he  was  mad. 

Millions  of  dollars  in  oil,  barrels,  tanks,  flat-boats,  rafts  of 
lumber,  buildings,  merchandise,  etc.,  etc.,  were  carried  away, 
destroyed,  or  damaged. 

When  the  water  had  subsided,  I  rolled  oil  barrels  on  the 
dock  for  a  few  days  at  sixty  cents  per  hour,  and  then  got  a 
job  with  a  surveyor  as  chain  carrier  at  three  dollars  per  da}', 
which  I  held  until  I  had  travelled  over  much  of  that  region. 

I  remember  seeing  old  Indian  camping  grounds  and  hear- 
ing the  stories  of  how  they  used  to  gather  the  "Seneca  oil" 
with  blankets  on  Oil  Creek,  and  sell  it  for  medical  purposes  to 
the  pale-faced  invaders. 

These  were  days  of  jubilee  for  the  horny-handed  farmers 
anywhere  around  here,  as  they  could  now  sell  their  poor  and 
rugged  side-hill  farms  for  five,  ten  and  twenty  thousand  dollars 
to  speculators  and  companies  who  were  now  minutely  surveying 


26  Stkiking  Out  Fiiom  Home. 

them,  with  their  springs  and  creeks  to  map  and  paint  in  glow- 
ing colors,  to  divide  up  and  sell  to  strangers  as  oil  lands  rich 
in  prospects. 

Many  tricks  were  invented  and  used  to  effect  sales  of  "oil 
lands,"  such  as  burying  barrels  of  oil,  slightly  tapped,  near 
some  spring,  so  the  oil  would  run  in  and  flow  from  it,  and  as 
carrying  a  hollow  cane — with  a  valve  in  the  end  —  filled  with 
oil  to  show  an  investor,  oil  "most  anywhere  around  here  just 
by  pushing  a  stick  in  the  ground,  you  see." 

But  it  was  at  a  distance,  on  pasteboard  and  paper,  that 
"oil  lands"  and  "town  lots"  for  sale  appeared  the  most  enchant- 
ing, as  bluflfs  and  craggy  hills  appeared  as  level  land  then,  and 
the  streams  and  springs  were  often  only  in  the  mind  and 
picture. 

However,  in  time  it  transpired  that  surface  indications 
proved  little  or  nothing  anyway,  as  wells  that  were  sunk  in,  or 
near  real  oil  springs,  seldom,  if  ever,  produced  in  paying 
quantities,  and  the  high  lands — at  first  considered  worthless- 
proved  as  good  as  any,  except  the  inconvenience  or  inaccessi- 
bility in  working  it. 

And  altogether  only  one  well  in  perhaps  a  hundred  pro- 
duced any  oil,  and  it  was  more  apt  to  yield  but  one  barrel  per 
day  than  two  or  three  hundred  ;  very  few  outside  investors  who 
kept  their  stock  or  interests  got  their  money  back. 

Man}'  original  owners  of  the  land  held  on  to  it  and  allowed 
others  to  sink  wells  on  it  — the  owner  to  receive  one-third  of 
what  oil  might  be  produced.  This  is  what  the  widow  McClintoc 
did,  and  which  made  "Coal  Oil  Johnny" — her  adopted  son — so 
rich  for  a  time  and  notorious  as  a  prodigal  son  of  fortune. 

While  he  was  scattering  his  wealth  to  the  wild  winds,  he 
declared  to  his  friends,  who  tried  to  divert  him  from  his  down- 
ward course,  that  "he  had  driven  a  team  on  Oil  Creek  for  a 
living  and  could  do  so  again,"  and  substantially  this  he  after- 
wards had  to  do  in  other  places.  Though  he  spent  much  of 
his  fortune  in  reckless  dissipation  and  sport,  he  also  gave  away 
a  great  deal  from  a  most  noble  impulse  and  kindly  feeling. 
But  perhaps  more  than  either  or  both  amounts  was  gotten  from 
him  by  "real  nice  and  respected"  gentry,  by  chicanery  of  the 


The  Oil  Eegions.  27 


most  contemptible  and  villainous  type, — such  as  setting  up 
banks  to  "fail"  after  catching  his  large  de230sits. 

He  knows  more  of  human  and  inhuman  characters  now ; 
■what  a  pity  for  him  and  his,  that  he  had  not  learned  it  in  his 
youth,  either  in  his  own  efforts  for  a  living,  or  it  had  been 
taught  to  him  by  the  wider  and  deeper  experience  of  others, 
educated  by  struggling  with  the  real  masked  and  brazen  world. 

Much  has  been  said  and  sung  about  the  prodigality  of 
^'Johnny  Coal  Oil,"  but  somehow  we  never  hear  of  any  great 
good  flowing  from  those  who  got  two  barrels  of  oil,  whenever 
John  Steel  got  one. 

It  was  customary  in  the  oil  regions  to  keep  a  pail  of 
petroleum  in  the  house  for  making  fires,  and  in  this  way  Mrs. 
McClintoc  was  burned  to  death.       I  was  at  and  over  the  place. 

Others  lost  their  opportunity  to  gain  a  competency  by  thus 
allowing  their  places  to  be  prospected  or  tested,  instead  of  sell- 
ing on  faith  and  hope,  at  a  time  when  it  was  universal  and 
strong. 

When  the  whole  country  had  been  prospected,  it  then 
transpired  that  the  oil  lands  lay  in  narrow  belts  without  regard 
to  creeks,  hills,  or  other  surface  formation,  and  in  these,  oil 
had  not  been  always  found. 

Crude  petroleum  is  as  thick  or  heavy  as  lard  oil  ;  but  the 
color  is  a  deep  green ;  it  emits  an  odor  like  the  petroleum  axle 
grease  sold  throughout  the  country.  I  shipped  a  barrel  of  it 
home,  as  a  curiosity  and  for  lubricating  machinery. 

It  appears  to  be  a  sort  of  fish  oil,  the  sand-stone  in  which 
it  is  confined  being  sometimes  the  bed  of  a  sea,  and  by  its  up- 
heaval, turned  off  the  water  and  gave  the  whale-like  animals 
their  death  in  the  sand,  this  sand  drifting  or  otherwise  receiv- 
ing and  holding  from  evaporation  their  carcasses  and  oil,  when 
the  sand  hardens  into  a  strata  of  sand-stone,  retaining  and 
confining  the  oil  with  the  gases. 

My  next  emploj-ment  was  in  running  an  engine  for  a  pump- 
ing oil  well  at  four  dollars  per  day ;  board  being  from  six  to 
eight  dollars  per  week,  (the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  are  exception- 
ally good  livers);  and  then  I  worked  as  driller  in  boring  other 
wells  at  the  same  wages ;  and  at  one  of  these  employments  or 
the  other— sometimes  sharpening  and  repairing  the  tools  being 


28  Striking  Out  From  Home. 

included — I  was  engaged  during  the  most  of  my  sojourn  in  the 
Oil  Regions,  which  time  was  nearly  eleven  months.  I  thus 
worked  at  different  wells  and  localities. 

At  one  place  (Franklin)  I  sunk  a  well,  with  one  helper, 
from  five  hundred  to  about  a  thousand  feet  deep ;  and  as  there 
was  but  the  two  of  us  (they  generally  run  night  and  day,  re- 
quiring four  men)  we  put  in  as  much  time  as  we  desired,  which 
was  sixteen  hours  per  day  and  eighteen  on  Saturdays.  This 
well  was  sunk  four  or  five  hundred  feet  deeper  than  others,  as 
an  experiment,  but  found  no  oil.  A  humbug  oil  "  smeller  "  had 
traced  several  veins  of  oil  to  a  junction  at  the  very  spot  we 
bored  through,  he  "  could  (and  did)  give  the  depth  "  also. 

The  average  oil  well  was  five  inches  in  diameter.  The 
average  boring  tools  consist  of  a  bit,  or  drill,  two  and  a  half 
feet  long,  which  is  screwed  into  a  round  bar,  twenty-two  feet 
long  ("anger  stem  "),  which  is  screwed  into  one  end  of  a  pair 
of  heavy  links  ("Jars")  five  feet  long,  the  other  end  of  the  jars 
being  screwed  into  a  round  bar  ("sinker  bar")  eight  feet  long, 
which  is  screwed  into  the  end  of  a  roj)o  socket,  three  feet  long, 
all  made  of  three  inch  round  iron,  and  weigh  eleven  or  twelve 
hundred  pounds.  The  end  of  a  one  and  a  half  inch  rope  is 
wrapped  and  riveted  into  the  rope  socket ;  the  other  end  of  the 
rope  is  passed  up  over  a  pulley  at  the  top  of  the  derrick  and 
down  to  and  wound  around  the  shaft  of  a  windlass-like  wheel 
("bull  wheel"),  which  is  attached  by  a  a  rope  belt  to  a  ten 
horse  power  engine,  and  used  to  lower  and  raise  the  tools  in 
the  well  whenever  the  bit  is  dulled  or  the  sediment  (drillings) 
needs  to  be  pumped  out,  which  is  as  often  as  every  two  and 
a  half  feet  is  gone  down. 

The  tools  are  now  suspended  just  over  the  hole,  which  is 
about  full  of  water.  The  rope  belt  having  been  thrown  from 
the  bull-wheel,  the  driller,  with  a  brake  on  the  wheel,  lets  the 
tools  run,  or  nearly  drop,  to  the  bottom  of  the  hole  (the  engine 
being  used  in  raising  them  out).  Next  the  rope  at  a  few  feet 
above  the  mouth  of  the  hole  is  clasped  tightly  to  a  screw 
arrangement  ("temper  screw"),  the  screw  itself  being  two  and 
a  half  feet  long,  the  upper  end  of  which  is  a  swivel  and  hook, 
which  is  hooked  under  the  end  of  a  walking  beam,  say  thirty  feet 
long,  the  other  end  of  it  being  attached  to  the  engine  with  a 


O 


(29) 


30  Striking  Out  From  Home. 

pitmen;  then  slack  is  given  the  rope  above  by  turning  the  buli- 
uheel  back,  thus  causing  the  tools  to  hang  suspended  to  the 
■walking  beam;  when  the  engine  is  started,  the  tools  being 
simply  raised  and  dropped  two  or  three  feet  at  every  turn  of 
the  walking  beam,  which  is  made  to  go  slow  or  fast  according 
to  the  depth  of  the  hole  and  length  of  the  rope;  as  can  be 
imagined,  the  deeper  the  hole,  the  slower  the  stroke. 

The  w^eight  of  the  bit,  the  twenty-two  feet  "anger  stem" 
and  the  lower  link,  or  half  of  the  "  jars,"  being  the  downward 
or  drilling  force,  or  weight ;  while  the  weight  in  the  upper  link, 
or  half  of  the  jars,  wath  the  eight  feet  "sinker  bar,"  jars  the  bit 
loose  as  it  jerks  it  up.  Little  or  much  "jar"  being  given,  ac- 
cording to  how  much  the  bit  sticks.  If  the  hole  be  deep  and 
no  "jar"  is  given,  the  walking  beam  will  play  on  the  stretch  of 
the  rope,  without  raising  the  tools  from  the  bottom.  If  the 
hole  be  shallow  (so  that  the  rope  is  short)  and  the  jar  is  allow- 
ed to  run  entirely  out,  then  the  bit,  sticking  much,  stops  the 
engine  or  breaks  something  ;  while  too  much  jar  lessens  the  fall 
of  the  bit  and  lower  part  of  the  tools,  making  it  drill  slow 
in  proportion. 

The  driller,  sitting  on  a  stool,  turns  the  screw  and  rope  on 
the  swivel  above  a  little  at  each  downward  stroke,  and  as  the 
drill  works  down,  so  the  jar  feels  slight,  indistinct,  or,  if  the  bit 
sticks,  he  unscrews  the  temper-screw,  giving  more  rope  and 
more  jar.  When  he  has  thus  unscrewed  the  length  of  the 
screw  (two  and  a  half  feet),  or  the  bit  is  sooner  dulled,  the  tools 
are  hoisted  out  and  another  tool  ("rimmer")  is  substituted  for 
the  two  and  a  half  feet  bit,  which  is  to  cut  or  rim  the  hole  one 
inch  larger  than  the  bit  (the  cut  of  the  bit  being  but  four 
inches)  and  is  done  to  keep  the  hole  round. 

This  done,  the  tools  are  again  hoisted  out,  and  a  sharpened 
bit  replaces  the  rimmer  to  make  another  two  or  two  and  a  half 
feet.  But  before  the  tools  are  let  down  again,  the  sediment  or 
drillings  must  be  pumped  out  with  the  "sand-pump."  This 
tool  is  simply  a  zinc  pipe,  five  feet  long  and  three  and  a  half  or 
four  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  valve  in  one  end  and  a  bail  on 
the  other ;  to  this  bail  is  tied  the  end  of  a  half-inch  rope  which 
is  reeled  on  a  wheel ;  the  pump  is  dropped  into  the  hole,  and 
when  it  reaches  the  bottom  the  driller  works  it  up  and  down  a, 


The  Oil  Kegions.  31 


/ew  times  by  the  rope,  tlius  working  the  mud  or  drillings  up 
vhrough  the  valve  into  the  pipe  or  ]5ump,  then  the  engine  reels 
'jt  up  very  quickly  when  it  is  emptied  and  the  same  simple 
process  repeated  three  or  four  times,  at  the  completion  of  every 
two  or  two  and  half  feet. 

Before  drilling  is  commenced  on  a  well,  heavy  seven-inch 
iron  pipe — in  seven  feet  sections  —  is  driven  with  a  ram  to  the 
bed  rock,  or  else  an  ordinary  well  is  dug  down  to  it  and  a  plank 
bos  pipe  set  up  in  it,  the  upper  end  being  at  the  surface  and  is 
the  top  of  the  well.  Solid  rock  is  desired  and  generally  had 
the  rest  of  the  way.  The  exceptions  being  in  mud  veins  and 
cavities,  which  frequently  cause  trouble  by  pieces  of  rock 
working  out  and  falling  on  the  tools,  to  the  extent  sometimes 
that  the  tools  and  hole  are  abandoned. 

Five  or  six  feet  per  day — of  twelve  hours — is  about  the 
average  work  in  boring  a  600  feet  well. 

In  the  Oil  Creek  section,  three  stratas  of  sand-stone  are 
found  and  gone  through,  each  thirty  or  forty  feet  thick,  in 
which  the  oil  is.  Little  or  none  is  found  in  the  first  strata  (at 
about  225  feet),  more  is  apt  to  be  found  in  the  second  (at  about 
425  feet),  but  never,  I  believe,  in  paying  quantities,  so  that  little 
notice  is  given  to  any  prospects  found  here  either ;  but  when 
the  third  strata  is  reached  and  gone  through,  which  is  at  a 
depth  of  nearly  600  hundred  feet,  then  the  boring  is  finished  ;  as 
here  in  the  third  sand-stone  is  where  oil  is  expected  to  be  found, 
if  at  all,  and  worked. 

The  kind  of  rock  between  the  stratas  of  sand-stone  is 
mostly  granite,  slate  or  soap-stone,  with-  thin  stratas  of  a 
harder  nature,  sometimes  flint. 

In  one  well,  in  say  a  thousand,  oil  is  struck  which  immedi- 
ately flows  and  spurts  out ;  but  whether  this  be  the  case  or  not, 
the  well  is  next  piped  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  bottom  with  a 
two  and  a  half  inch  gas  or  water  pipe,  having  a  pump  valve  in 
the  bottom  section,  and  a  leather  bag  the  size  of  the  well  (five 
inches)  and  two  feet  long  is  tied  at  each  end  around  the  pipe 
or  tubing,  so  it  will  be  just  above  the  third  sand-stone ;  this 
"seed  bag"  having  been  filled  with  flax  seed,  which,  swelling, 
shuts  off  all  the  water  above  it  to  the  surface,  thus  allowing 
any  pressure  of  oil  and  wat^r  wK^ch  may  be  below  it  in  the 


OF  THB 


32  Striking  Out  From  Home. 

third  sand-stone  to  flow  np  the  tubing  without  incumbrance 
from  the  veins  of  Avater  for  500  feet  or  more  above. 

But  unless  a  strong  force  of  gas  is  tapped,  neither  oil  nor 
water  is  apt  to  be  very  pressing  to  get  up.  In  any  such  case, 
however,  it  generally  flows  or  spurts  out  at  intervals,  sj)asmod- 
ically,  with  gas  enough  to  run  an  engine  and  more. 

Usually  no  oil  has  yet  appeared  when  "sucker  rods,"  with 
a  pump  valve  at  the  end  of  the  first  section,  are  let  down  into 
the  tubing  to  the  bottom,  and  the  upper  end  attached  to  the 
walking  beam,  and  pumping  commenced  and  continued — night 
and  day  and  Sundays— for  about  six  weeks.  When  if  nothing 
but  water,  or  water  and  gas  appears,  the  well  is  abandoned, 
which,  of  course,  is  generally  the  case.  The  water  may  be  salt 
at  the  start,  or  get  to  be  such  after  pumping  a  few  days  or 
weeks.  Salt  water  is  a  favorable  sign,  it  frequently  being 
followed  by  oil,  and  oil  is  not  found  without  it.  I  believe 
petroleum  was  first  struck  in  boring  for  salt. 

The  Indians  of  the  oil  regions  had  gone  to  their  happy 
hunting  grounds,  or  had  been  removed,  or  fables  as  to  their 
supposed  knowledge  of  oil  springs,  etc.,  might  have  been  in- 
vented and  they  thus  utilized  by  rings  of  men— with  the  aid  of 
their  press— and  the  oil  excitement  prolonged,  as  is  done  in 
other  mining  regions. 

Moreover,  it  was  too  accessible  to  the  outside  world,  by 
rail  and  the  Alleghany  River,  for,  with  slight  expense,  time  and 
inconvenience,  those  who  were  furnishing  the  cash,  for  the 
operators  to  invest  and  steal,  could  see  and  learn  for  them- 
selves the  business  and  properties  in  which  so  many  were 
wildly  investing. 

This  is  the  reason  the  Pacific  railroads  and  Gen.  Crook 
(who  settled  the  Indians  beyond  question  for  a  time  in 
Arizona)  were  such  a  curse  to  the  mining  and  tributary  interests 
in  the  far  west,  causing  whole  districts  to  be  abandoned,  and  so 
they  are  yet.  Many  with  money  to  invest  then  learned,  in  ad- 
vance of  investment,  not  to  expect  returns  from  investments  in 
ring  companies  on  account  of  songs  sung  of  a  comparative  few 
lucky  strikes ;  so  times  in  the  mining  and  oil  camps  became 
very  hard.  And  as  many  of  the  games  were  being  closed  for  a 
change  of  base  and  operations,  away  from  lines  of  travel,  many 


The  Oil  Kegions.  33 


of  the  common  herd  of  men  were  swindled  out  of  their  wages, 
deposits  or  savings,  and  with  the  outside  investors  were  settled 
with  in  stocks  of  experience,  in  knowledge  they  should  have 
gained  in  their  youth. 

"For  such  is  the  temper  of  men  that  before  they  have  had  the 
trial  of  great  afflictions,  they  do  not  understand  what  is  for  their 
advantage :  but  when  they  find  themselves  under  such  afflictions, 
they  then  change  their  minds,  and  what  it  had  been  better  for 
them  to  have  done  before  they  had  been  at  all  damaged,  they 
choose  to  do,  but  not  until  after  they  have  suffered  such  damage." 

— Josephus. 

A  few  months  or  years  as  a  news-boy,  or  spent  in  sweeping, 
or  doing  errands  in  offices  or  dens  of  lawyers,  ring  companies 
or  other  gangs,  so  he  hears  the  talk  that  goes  on  there,  with 
practical  moral  lessons  at  home,  is  for  a  boy  the  best  bequest, 
the  best  endowment,  the  most  wise  foundation,  stock  in  trade 
and  security  for  fortune  and  favor,  and  to  keep  one  "unspotted 
in  the  world" — though  he  may  spot  others. 

I  was  present  at  the  dying  scenes  of  those  plays,  so  skill- 
fully painted  in  oil,  and  years  afterwards  at  others,  galvanized 
in  silver  and  gold, 

I  left  the  oil  regions  on  February  lltli,  1866,  having  earned 
nearly  one  thousand  dollars  ;  had  many  enjoyable  times  and 
others  not  so  pleasant ;  had  been  at  all  the  towns  and  sections 
from  Franklin  and  below  to  Titusville,  and  from  Oil  Creek  to 
Pit-hole.  Had  lost  various  sums  in  loaning  and  in  simple  con- 
fidence and  folly,  had  disposed  of  other  sums  in  friendship  and 
favor  and  pleasure,  and  got  away  with  about  five  hundred 
dollars  ;  had  I  remained  a  little  longer,  a  bank  would  have  got 
away  with  most  of  that,  as  it  was  near  the  time  set  to  close 
their  deals,  done  in  the  name  and  guise  of  security  (?)  and  by 
the  protection  of  the  courts. 

Courts  grind  the  poor,  and  rings  rule  the  courts. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Leaving  the  oil  regions  for  a  good  time  ' '  out  West. " — A  period  of  travel, 
etc.,  of  four  and  a  half  months  to  the  Missouri  river. — Tlien  crossing 
the  pLains  to  Salt  Lake  Avith  wagon  train  in  sixty  days.- — Our  train. — 
My  team. — First  camp  in  a  storm. — Fording  the  Platte  river  with  its 
quick-sand  bottom. — Big  teams. — My  first  drink — Delusion  in  dis- 
tance.— Game. — Freighting,  etc. —  Life  and  Government  on  the 
plains. — A  comprehensive  account  of  the  region  from  the  Missouri 
river  to  Salt  Lake  Valley. 

OTHEES  have  said  before  that  a  doHar's  worth  of  pure 
pleasure  is  worth  more  than  a  dollar's  worth  of  auythiug  else 
in  the  world — that  working  is  not  living,  but  only  the  means  by 
which  we  win  a  living ;  that  money  is  good  for  nothiug,  except 
for  what  it  brings  of  comfort  and  culture.  Believing  in  this 
philosophy,  I  next  started  out  to  live  and  to  enjoy  the  pleasure 
and  culture  I  had  won,  devoting  the  ensuing  four  and  a  half 
months  to  travel  by  rail,  water  and  stage  (tramping  was  not 
much  in  vogue  then),  and  in  visiting  relatives  and  others  of  my 
acquaintance,  who  had  settled  "out  West,"  in  Ohio,  Illinois 
Michigan  and  Nebraska. 

This  was  a  season  of  enjoyment,  unalloyed  by  cares,  hard- 
ships or  perplexities  of  any  kind,  and  to  which  my  mind  often 
reverts,  and  always  with  the  utmost  pleasure  and  satisfaction. 
Of  the  pleasant  homes  and  happy  families,  of  the  genuine  lios- 
pitalit}^  affection,  friendship  and  good  times  I  enjoyed  on  every 
hand,  I  should  like  to  dwell  on.  And  also  of  the  cities  and 
many  places  and  objects  of  interest  I  saw  to  admire ;  but  as 
there  was  nothing  rugged  or  strange  blended  in  my  experiences 
here,  I  must  thus  pass  them  over,  which  brings  me  to  the  20th 
of  June,  1866,  when  I  found  myself  at  Nebraska  City  in  charge 
of  a  foiir  mule  team  and  wagon,  loaded  with  improved  rifles, 
and  bound  over  the  plains  for  Salt  Lake  City. 

"Joy  bounds  through  every  throbbing  vein — 
Dear  world  ?  where  love  and  pleasure  reign." 

None  of  the  Pacific  railroads  had  yet  been  built,  but  the 
TJ.  P.  and  Central  was  commenced  that  summer  ;  consequently 
all  the  freight  required  to  supply  Denver,  the  Mines,  Salt  Lake, 

(34) 


Life  on  the  Plains.  35 


the  Military  Posts  and  the  whole  region  between  the  Missouri 
river  and  the  Pacific  ocean  and  our  northern  line  and  Mexico, 
with  the  slight  exception  of  some  river  navigation  near  the 
coast,  M^as  then  transported  in  wagons  by  mule  and  ox  teams. 
For  safety  and  convenience  these  travelled  in  companies  or 
trains  of  say  twenty  to  forty  wagons.  An  average  ox  team  was 
six  yoke  and  that  of  mules  run  from  four  to  fourteen  animals. 
I  think  the  Government  standard  of  six  is  the  most  practicable 
team  for  teaming ;  most  any  one  can  handle  and  care  for  such  a 
team ;  a  load  can  be  gotten  on  one  wagon  without  the  risk  of  sid- 
ling and  soft  roads,  and  the  leaders  of  the  team  don't  need  to 
swing  all  over  the  country  in  making  a  few  miles,  as  do  large 
teams  and  trail  or  high-loaded  wagons. 

Freighting  on  the  plains  was  an  extensive  and  usually  a 
profitable  industry,  but  the  fortunes  were  mostly  acquired  by 
ring  favorites  of  Government  ofiicials,  on  account  of  Govern- 
ment transportation,  and  they,  usually,  sub-letting  to  others 
who  did  the  work  at  half  the  cost  to  Uncle  Sam.  This  western 
region  — marked  on  the  old  maps  as  the  "Great  American  De- 
sert," or  the  "Plains,"  as  the  unsettled  portions  are  called  in 
the  west — in  the  days  I  speak  of  were  much  like  the  ocean  in 
many  respects,  and  in  this,  that  there  were  no  courts  and 
lawyers  to  murder  justice. 

Everybody  was  expected  to  defend  and  protect  himself  and 
his  own,  and  consequently  was  always  more  or  less  jjrepared 
and  ready  to  do  so.  And  it  transpired  that  the  results  of  this 
simple  and  taxless  mode  of  Government  (anarchy)  as  j^ractised 
on  the  plains  by  the  many  thousands  and  mottled  throngs 
during  those  many  years  — though  not  above  all  desirable— yet 
that  it  was  far  superior  to  that  of  any  ring-ridden  lawyer  gang 
infested  community. 

Bad  Indians  and  just  as  bad  white  men  would  murder  and 
plunder  to  some  extent,  to  be  sure,  but  not  to  the  extent  one 
would  imagine,  considering  the  isolation  and  the  large  and  en- 
ticing opportunities,  and  nothing  in  comparison  to  that  com- 
mitted in  the  states  in  the  name  of  one  thing  or  another. 

This  is  true,  notwithstanding  the  pretty  true  saying,  that 
"Everybody  quarrels  in  crossing  the  plains."  But  the  com- 
panionship is  often  close  in  travelling,  camping  and  working 


36  Out  West. 

together,  and  the  necessary  hardships  and  aggravations  are 
often  trying,  and  test  to  the  quick  all  of  the  traits  of  the 
human  disposition. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  nobody  was  imprisoned,  but  few  ever 
killed  or  hurt,  and  losses  of  property,  or  peace  of  mind,  seldom 
occurred  there  from  trouble  with  each  other ;  and  it  was  such 
an  active  life,  too. 

Plains'  people  usually  refrained  from  practising  tricks  and 
confidence  games  in  their  dealings  with  one  another,  or  even  to 
take  the  advantage  of  ignorance,  or  necessity,  (because  there 
■were  no  laws  and  courts  to  protect  them  in  such  devihy),  there- 
fore they  seldom  had  or  made  any  trouble,  and  when  any  did 
occur,  it  was  short  and  decisii'e,  instead  of  a  lingering,  never- 
ending  agony  of  suspense,  expense  and  often  of  unjust  torture, 
as  is  the  result  at  rotten  courts. 

A  New  York  business  man  with  his  family,  desiring  to 
make  a  visit  to  Utah  (his  wife  being  a  Mormon  lady,  strange 
though  it  may  seem)  and  to  increase  his  wealth,  bought  twenty- 
four  new  w^agons,  harness,  etc.,  and  over  a  hundred  mules, 
which  were  also  mostly  new,  loaded  up  with  his  own  goods 
(general  merchandise),  and  all  for  the  Salt  Lake  City  market. 

I  was  to  drive  one  of  his  teams  through  at  twenty  dollars 
per  month.  Teamsters  on  the  plains  had  usually  been  getting 
from  forty  to  eighty  dollars  per  month,  but  now  so  many  were 
anxious  to  emigrate  west  to  the  mining  regions,  that  hundreds 
were  willing  to  drive  even  big  ox  teams  for  their  board  and 
passage — and  they  walked. 

On  a  Sunday  we  drove  the  band  of  mules  from  their  open 
range  -  then  but  a  few  miles  from  Nebraska  City — into  town 
and  corralled  them. 

Outside  of  the  towns  especially,  it  was  very  unusual  to  ob- 
serve the  Sabbath  anywhere  west  of  the  Missouri  river,  and  we 
church-going,  praying  puritans,  who  would  shudder  in  holy 
horror  at  such  desecration  at  home,  now  took  to  the  ways  of  the 
country,  and  the  theory  that  "the  Sabbath  was  made  for  man, 
and  not  man  for  the  Sabbath." 

A  part  of  our  mules  were  unbroken  and  wild  ;  in  order  to 
mix  them,  the  wagon-master  or  captain  of  the  train — who  by 
the  way  got  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  month — allowed  us 


Life  on  the  Plains.  37 


drivers  to  pick  one  pair  for  our  team,  when  he  wouki  select 
the  other.  I  happened  to  get  possession  of  perhaps  the  best 
pair  in  the  band ;  observing  this,  he  said  that  "  he  reckoned,  he 
could  match  them "  (rather  mimatch),  and  this  he  did;  I  had 
to  lasso  and  choke  them  to  a  wagon  wheel  to  be  harnessed,  and 
throw  them  to  be  shod.  In  the  first  half  mile  they  had  the 
end  of  the  wagon  well  splintered,  so  to  save  the  splinters  I  put 
them  on  the  lead,  and,  in  trying  to  get  back,  they  broke  off  the 
tongue. 

I  had  never  driven  four  animals  before,  but  thought,  by 
locating  a  few  wagons  behind  the  lead  wagon  in  the  train,  I 
could  herd  them  along  after  the  others  in  some  way,  though  they 
icere  wild ;  but  they  started  me  out  on  the  lead,  just  as  if  I 
knew  anything  about  leading  a  heavily  loaded  wagon  train. 
Had  on  about  4000  pounds  to  the  w^agon,  including  four  or  five 
hundred  pounds  of  corn  for  feed,  which  was  very  heavy  loading 
for  the  plains. 

Got  out  a  mile  or  two  the  first  day  and  camped ;  took  a 
week  to  make  the  first  ten  miles.  There  were  two  men  to  herd 
the  mules  at  night,  and  one  to  drive  the  extra  stock ;  there 
were  also  two  wagons  belonging  to  the  wagon  master  and  his 
brother,  who  were  Mormons,  and  one  of  our  drivers  was  a 
Mormon  preacher  just  returning  from  a  foreign  "mission." 

So  there  were  about  thirty  of  us,  divided  into  four  messes, 
well  provided  with  grub  for  the  trip,  also  with  tents,  but  we 
seldom  bothered  to  use  them.  Having  bought  blankets  for 
the  trip  only,  as  I  supposed,  but  found  that  the  average  man  was 
expected  to  furnish  his  own  bed  most  anywhere  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  that  a  hay  mow  or  straw  stack  is  considered  first- 
class  lodging.  I  made  my  "bed"  under  my  wagon,  as  it  was 
raining,  and  turned  in  with  my  clothes  and  boots  on,  as  though 
I  had  been  used  to  camping  all  my  life  and  liked  it.  It  was 
a  pouring  rain  with  thunder  and  forked  lightning.  When  the 
water  ran  into  my  "bed"  I  awoke,  and  took  a  stroll  around  camp 
to  see  how  others  did,  to  get  fun  out  of  this  sort  of  living ;  this 
was  simple  enough.  Those  who  were  drowned  out  had  put  up 
a  tent  in  the  mud,  and  with  "Fiddler  Jim"  were  having  a 
concert. 

After  we  got  our  corn  fed  up,  we  had  room  to  sleep  in  the 


38  Out  West. 

wagons ;  however,  it  did  not  rain  mucli  more,  nor  is  tliere  any 
dew  on  the  plains.  Only  this  simple  lack  of  rain  causes  so 
much  desert  and  desolate  country',  and  lack  of  soil  and  timber. 

Some  freight  trains  had  been  manned  with  drivers  in  their 
necessity  without  any  wages,  and  they  had  struck  on  the  plains 
and  compelled  the  highest  to  be  paid  them,  and  there  had  been 
other  trouble,  though  justice  prevailed.  So  now  our  proprietor 
called  us  together  to  confirm  our  understanding  and  to  sign 
some  sort  of  written  agreement.  Some  were  in  favor  of  this, 
others  against  it,  and  the  rest  did'nt  care.  The  young  black- 
smith, however,  settled  the  question ;  he  was  in  favor  of  sign- 
ing a  contract,  and  a  strong  one,  "for,"  said  he :  "I  signed  one 
once,  the  only  one  in  my  life,  that  I  would  stay  with  a  black- 
smith three  years,  and  I  stayed  three  months." 

The  wagon  master  said :  "He  would  just  as  soon  take  the 
boys'  words  for  it,  as  was  usual  with  him,  and  did  not  apprehend 
any  trouble  of  any  kind."  Then  after  the  proprietor  had  in- 
formed us  as  to  the  amount  of  work  he  could  do,  and  the 
number  of  wagons  he  himself  could  drive,  if  necessary — six,  I 
believe— the  matter  was  dropped. 

In  the  West  there  are  many  good  men  who  are  afraid  to 
put  their  names  to  any  writing  whatever,  even  to  promises  they 
are  able  and  intend  to  fulfill ;  they  having  learned  that  no  one 
could  know  what  the  meaning  might  be  construed  to  be,  and  the 
expense  of  the  same,  should  it  ever  get  into  a  court  of  justice (?). 

There  were  a  few  improved  farms  at  and  for  a  few  miles 
beyond  our  first  camp,  which,  I  believe,  was  the  last  that  we  saw 
till  we  got  to  Salt  Creek,  which  was  rudely  settled.  Now 
Lincoln,  the  State  Capital,  and  a  railroad  centre,  is  here. 
Mosquitos  were  thick  and  as  blood-thirsty  as  the  members  of 
a  "charitable"  brotherhood,  and  this  was  about  the  last  place  we 
were  annoyed  by  insect  pests  during  the  trip. 

The  country  from  the  Missouri  Eiver  to  this  longitude  is  a 
beautiful  and  rich  rolling  prairie,  and  is  now  about  all  in  culti- 
vation ;  but  west  of  this,  or  say  the  98tli  longitude  to  the  coast 
range,  the  rainfall  is  insufficient  or  too  uncertain",  to  farm  suc- 
cessfully without  irrigation  (except  in  spots),  and  this  is  largely 
impracticable,  because  of  the  lack  of  soil  or  its  being  inacces- 
sible to  water. 


Life  on  the  Pl.\ins.  39 


We  struck  the  Platte  river  forty  miles  east  of  Fort 
Kerney,  aud  then  travelled  up  its  sandy  bottom  about  240 
miles  to  where  at  that  time  was  Julesburgh — a  dilapidated 
military  and  stage  station,  400  miles  from   the  Missouri  river. 

There  were  a  great  many  dead  oxen  lying  along  the  road, 
a  great  many  Antelope  were  in  sight,  and  owing  to  the  rarefied 
air,  were  apparently  close  by,  but  really  so  far,  that  with  all  the 
shooting  none  were  killed,  and  all  we  got  was  bought  of  the 
Indians. 

My  first  experience  in  the  delusion  of  distance  in  a  dry 
atmosphere  occurred  one  afternoon  on  the  Platte  river.  We 
having  camped  earl}',  three  of  us  thought  we  would  walk  out  to 
and  climb  some  hills,  apparently  half  a  mile  from  camp,  to 
enjoy  a  better  view ;  we  travelled  a  mile  or  two,  and  as  they  did 
not  appear  any  nearer  my  chums  turned  back.  I  continued  on 
about  as  much  further,  and  seeing  but  little  difference  yet, 
gave  it  up,  and  in  returning  in  the  dark  brought  up  at  the 
camp  fires  of  another  train,  half  a  mile  from  our  own. 

At  Julesburgh  we  forded  the  Platte;  they  called  it  half  a 
mile  wide  here  ;  I  would  now  have  believed  them  had  they  said 
it  was  three  miles  wide.  The  river  bed  is  quick-sand,  and  there 
appears  to  be  about  as  much  sand  as  water  rolling  along  to  add 
to  the  countr}^  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  is  dangerous  for  a 
wagon  to  get  stuck  in  the  river,  as  it  would  sink  or  settle  in  the 
sandy  bottom,  and  so  would  a  mule  ;  therefore  our  teams  were 
doubled  up  to  twelve  animals,  and  the  wagon  beds  were  raised 
to  keep  the  goods  dry. 

Here  they  started  me  out — or  in — with  the  first  wagon 
again.  I  declared  that  I  could  not  get  through  with  such  a 
team,  but  with  another  driver  with  me,  and  our  Moses  insisting, 
that  "I  could  as  well  as  anybod}^  if  I  only  thought  so,"  and  by 
him  leading  out  until  his  mule  floundered  in  the  treacherous 
sand,  which  is  drifted  in  waves  and  heaj)s,  we  did  come  out 
on  the  opposite  side — about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  the  way 
we  took ;  but  in  returning,  having  no  wagon  to  steady  them,  the 
mules,  chains,  harness  and  doubletrees  got  in  a  tangled  mess, 
so  it  seemed  that  half  of  the  team  was  down  or  off  their  feet 
about  all  the  time ;  had  all  I  could  do  to  hang  on  to  the  harness ; 
so  we  finally  landed — the  wheelers  ahead — a  quarter  of  a  mile 


40  Out  West. 

from  the  right  landing  place  in  the  dark,  as  night  had  over- 
taken US.  I  thought  I  deserved  hanging,  or  else  songs  of  glory, 
but  others  considered  it  about  the  proper  and  usual  perform- 
ance of  a  tenderfoot  —  only  a  needed  bath  for  man  and  mules. 
The  other  teams  got  along  better,  being  kept  in  the  "track" 
where  it  was  somewhat  packed  and  less  miry,  as  I  did  after- 
wards. 

An  ox  train  loaded  with  a  quartz  mill  for  Idaho  was  cross- 
ing the  same  time  we  did.  Hitched  to  one  of  the  wagons, 
loaded  with  a  large  boiler,  were  thirty-eight  yoke  of  cattle  -  they 
said  forty-eight,  but  I  am  willing  to  knock  off  the  difference  as  I 
did  not  count  them.  The  boss  of  the  train  would  take  no  un- 
necessary chances,  and  could  afford  to  move  slow,  as  he  would 
get  twenty  or  perhaps  thirty  cents  a  pound  freight.  However, 
it  might  have  been  a  God-send  to  the  outside  stock  holders 
had  the  whole  thing  and  business  been  sunk  in  the  sand.  As 
to  the  large  teams,  the  idea  is,  that  a  good  portion  of  the 
animals  need  not  be  pulling  at  all,  can  be  entirely  off  their  feet, 
and  there  would  be  enough  besides  to  pull  them  up  and  along, 
and  thus  keep  the  wagon  moving.  Some  of  the  drivers  rode 
the  cattle  while  others  were  on  horseback. 

Here,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Platte,  I  took  my  first  drink, 
tasted  liquor  the  first  time  in  my  life.  Being  taken  with  a 
bad  chill,  they  rolled  me  up  in  blankets  by  the  camp  fire,  and 
fed  me  on  brandy  from  a  tin  cup ;  it,  however,  did  not  prove 
fatal,  as  I  have  never  taken  a  pint  altogether  since. 

We  now  took  up  Poll  Creek,  and  travelled  the  general 
route  since  taken  by  the  U.  P.  R.  R.,  leaving  the  stage  route 
for  a  time,  as  it  went  around  by  Denver ;  arrived  in  Salt  Lake 
City  in  sixty  days  from  the  Missouri  river  —  about  twenty  miles 
a  day,  which  was  unusual  fast  time  for  a  loaded  train. 

As  to  the  country  between  the  Platte  and  Salt  Lake,  we 
saw  a  few  moist,  contracted  bottoms,  where  wild  hay  was  being 
made  to  supply  the  overland  stage  stock ;  there  is  a  good  deal 
of  bunch  grass  country  besides,  which,  if  the  grass  was  cut, 
would  yield  about  seven  hundred  pounds  of  hay  to  the  acre,  or 
less ;  so  when  occupied  as  a  grazing  country,  as  it  has  since 
been,  it  could  easily  be  over-stocked.  There  is  much  land 
covered  with  sage  brush,  which  indicates  more  soil  and  moist- 


Life  on  the  Plains.  41 


ure,  and  where  it  pjrows  rank,  and  the  ground  can  be  irrigated. 
Anything  agreeable  to  the  climate  can  be  grown  in  profusion, 
if  not  destroyed  by  grasshoppers  or  other  insect  pests. 

There  is  timber  on  the  mountain  ranges  and  s-purs,  but 
often  so  distant  and  scrubby,  that  it  is  said,  in  some  localities 
telegraph  poles  cost  twenty  dollars,  or  more,  each. 

Saw  quite  a  number  of  wagon  trains  and  of  Indians  ;  met 
quite  an  emigration  from  California  and  Oregon  to  the  states  ; 
saw  some  prairie  dogs,  wolves,  jack-rabbits  and  sage-hens,  and 
heard  of  buffalo  and  other  large  game. 

We  took  turns  at  cooking,  while  others  brought  the  water 
and  fuel — which  is  generally  buffalo  or  cattle  "  chips,"  or  sage 
brush.  A  couple  at  a  time  relieved  the  regular  herders,  by 
herding  the  mules  mornings  and  evenings ;  and  one  at  a  time 
guarded  the  train  at  night  — though  he  often  slept  all  the  same, 
so  that  one  of  the  boys  offered  to  take  the  whole  job,  declaring 
"it  did  not  tire  him  any." 

The  same  degree  of  daring  and  low  cunning  necessary  in 
successfully  stealing  a  single  horse  in  the  states,  or  in  robbing 
a  store,  a  customer,  or  client,  if  displayed  here  on  the  plains  by 
a  secret  gang  of  a  dozen  men,  could  have  captured  our  whole 
train  most  any  night,  notwithstanding  we  were  all  armed  with 
rifles  and  revolvers.  Moreover,  the  fact  that  train  animals  are 
seldom  molested,  though  feeding  a  mile  or  two  from  camp,  and 
perhaps  300  from  even  a  military  post,  shows  the  Indians  to  be 
more  honest,  or  else  more  cowardly,  than  is  generally  repre- 
sented. 

Suppose  the  working  masses  in  the  states  should  rise  in 
their  necessity  and  might,  strip  off  their  ill-gotten  possessions, 
and  banish  to  the  plains  by  themselves  the  "charitable"  tribes 
among  them,  who  live  chiefly  by  their  wits,  tricks  and  hidden 
vices  off  of  other  men's  toil,  with  none  to  labor,  earn,  produce 
for  them,  or  to  watch  and  make  them  afraid ;  they  thus  being 
compelled  to  work,  steal,  or  starve,  and  the  country  was  their  own! 

Could  a  train,  as  inviting  as  ours,  pass  through  their 
country  without  tribute  or  plunder  ?  Not  much  !  And  instead 
of  an  occasional  grave  with  a  head-board  rudely  marked,"  killed 
by  Indians,"  etc.,  whole  grave  yards  would  appear. 

The  trip  to  me  was  a  novel  and,  on  the  whole,  a  pleasant 


42  Out  "West. 

one ;  an  agreeable  enougli  company :  nobody  striving  for 
trouble  or  imposition,  never  a  figlit,  or  even  a  hand  on  a  pistol 
for  protection  or  for  crime,  and  I  disremember  hearing  the 
captain  or  j^roprietor  speak  scarcely  an  angry  or  insolent  word 
— certainly  not  to  me.  Oiir  journey  ended.  Mr.  White  told 
our  Moses  (Geo.  Striugham)  to  "  take  the  boys  to  the  best  hotel 
in  town,"  where  he  boarded  us  at  three  dollars  a  day,  while  un- 
loading, etc.,  in  a  storehouse  he  had  procured  to  dispose  of  his 
goods  ;  he  having  left  us  several  days  back  to  be  here  in  ad- 
vance.    This  was  also  his  first  experience  in  the  West. 


(43) 


CHAPTER  III. 

SaltLake  City  and  Yalley. — Salt  Lake. — Climate  and  bathing.— Eemained 
a  month. — Then  made  a  trip  of  a  month  on  the  plains. — Caught  in  a 
blizzard. — Sixty-two  frozen  mules  for  breakfast,  Oct.  14th. — A  rough 
tramp  of  180  miles  in  the  snow. — Back  to  Salt  Lake. — Dreaming  of 
home  ! — As  to  the  hardshijis  of  trains  snow-bound  in  the  mountains. 
— Work  for  a  Mormon  dignitary. — The  "mighty  Host  of  Zion." — 
How  they  whijjped  Johnson's  U.  S.  Army  in  1861,  etc. — Mountain- 
Meadow  massacre,  etc. — Leave  Salt  Lake  on  horseback  for  St.  George, 
350  miles  south. — Takes  a  month. — Mormon  farms  and  villages. — 
Their  system  of  settlement,  etc. — Climate,  soil,  mountains. — A  month 
in  Si".  George  as  '"Dodge's  Clerk." — On  an  Indian  raid. — Made  a  trip 
to  the  extreme  southern  settlements. — What  for  ! — Cotton  country. 
— Mountain  of  rock  salt. — A  true,  comprehensive  description  of  the 
Mormons. — How  they  live  and  deal  with  each  other  and  with  Gentiles. 
— Their  religion  and  government,  as  they  keally  ake  in  practice.  — 
Their  virtues,  crimes  and  danger. 

oALT  Lake  City,  witli  its  gardens,  trees  and  rippling  brooks, 
spread  out  in  a  spacious  valley,  made  fruitful  and  charming  by 
a  cheerful  climate,  water  and  industry,  presented  a  beautiful, 
pleasing  appearance  to  us,  having  seen  little  else  than  bleak, 
burnt,  craggy  desolation  for  twelve  hundred  miles  and  sixty 
days. — 

The  valley  to  the  north  extends  about  a  hundred  miles  and 
is  about  eight  or  ten  miles  wide,  on  an  average.  This  is  water- 
ed mostly  by  Bear  and  Webber  rivers,  which  empty  in  Salt  Lake. 

To  the  south  the  valley  reaches  about  seventy  miles, 
averaging,  say,  two  miles  in  breadth,  is  watered  and  fertilized  by 
the  river  Jordan,  also  emptying  into  Salt  Lake,  where  the 
waters  of  this  and  Bear  river,  besides  other  streams,  evaporate, 
leaving  their  salts  in  the  lake  ;  it,  like  the  dead  sea,  ha^-ing  no 
outlet.  The  country  is  alkaline  or  salty,  and  the  atmosphere  is 
very  light  and  dry  ;  the  former  accounts  for  the  vast  amount  of 
salt  in  the  lake,  and  the  latter  for  the  evaporation  in  excess  of 
that  in  a  moist  climate.  Is  4200  feet  above  the  sea,  90  miles 
long,  20  to  25  miles  broad,  15  to  20  feet  deep.  Six  pails  of 
water  are  said  to  make  one  of  salt.  Health  seekers  should  note 
that  here  is  a  mild,  dry  mountain  climate  with  sea  breeze,  and 
bathing  in  cold  brine  or  warm  sulphur, 

C44) 


All  about  the  Mormons.  45 

I  bathed  in  the  famed  warm  sulphur  springs,  where  Dr. 
Robinson  was  assassinated  for  desiring  to  own  them  by  the  U. 
S.  laws,  when  the  brethren  wanted  it ;  attended  the  theatre  and 
church  meetings ; — remember  hearing  Vice-President  Kimbal 
from  the  pulpit  tell  the  choir  to  "sing  something  lively,  as  he 
enjoyed  that  kind  of  music  best  even  at  a  theatre."  Ate  apri- 
cots, peaches  and  other  fruit  from  the  acre  gardens  that  adorn 
nearly  every  residence  in  town.  There  being  a  stream  of 
mountain  water  flowing  on  either  side  of  every  street  for  irri- 
gation, etc.  Talked  with  men  from  the  mining  and  stock 
regions  of  the  surrounding  country,  who  come  for  hundreds  of 
miles  on  business,  to  winter,  and  spend  their  money  in  enjoy- 
ment here,  as  a  place,  that  surely  has  many  attractions,  even  as 
a  permanent  place  of  residence. 

Remained  here  about  a  month,  part  of  the  time  driving 
team  about  town  ;  then  for  another  month  drove  a  six  mule 
team  in  a  grain  supply  train  for  the  Overland  Stage  Company 
at  forty  dollars  a  month,  until  caught,  the  13th  of  October,  in  a 
blizzard  on  the  plains  ;  were  confined  to  our  beds  in  the  wagons 
for  two  nights  and  a  day  ;  nor  could  we  scarcely  move  on 
account  of  the  cold  and  the  snow  drifting  in  and  over  us. 
When  the  storm  abated  we  crawled  out,  broke  up  feed  boxes 
for  fires,  and  went  to  look  for  the  stock — 124  heads;  were  in  the 
brush  (on  Green  river),  where  we  had  left  them,  but  just  half 
of  them,  62,  were  frozen  to  death,  and  in  all  the  ghastly  attitudes 
of  cruel  agony.  Left  the  wagons  where  we  had  camped,  drove 
the  remainder  of  the  mules  to  a  valley,  six  or  seven  miles  away, 
where  it  was  quite  warm,  but  little  snow  had  fallen,  and  left 
them  for  the  winter  in  care  of  providence,  who  never  tempers 
the  winds  for  an  unfortunate  and  abused  mule. 

Three  or  four  Mormon  teams  were  engaged  to  take  us  with 
them  to  Salt  Lake — 180  miles ;  but  had  to  walk,  camp  and 
sleep  out  in  the  snow,  a  foot  or  two  deep.  There  is  nothing 
terrible  about  sleeping  in  the  snow  or  a  snow  storm  for  a  night 
or  two,  with  plenty  of  blankets,  no  matter  how  cold  it  is  ;  but 
to  continue  doing  so  and  travel,  the  blankets  get  wet  or  damp, 
so  that  one  dreams  of  home,  s^veei  home ! 

In  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  country,  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  taxes,  prisons,  courts  and  lawyer  gangs,   I  had  a 


46  Salt  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

navy-revolver  up  to  this  time  ;  but  never  having  needed  it,  and 
it  being  cumbersome,  disposed  of  it,  and  have  never  owned  a 
fire-arm  since,  except  a  shot  gun ;  though  on  a  few  occasions 
have  found  it  necessary  to  carry  a  pistol  for  protection  in  kind. 

There  is  scarcely  any  necessary  occasion  to  lose  horses  or 
mules  by  cold  or  starvation  in  the  far  West.  If  they  are  not 
over-worked,  they  will  stand  any  oue  storm.  And  there  are 
geuial  valley's  of  sunshine,  and  grass  in  sight  or  accessible  from 
most  anywhere  ;  also  rabbits  and  other  game  are  quite  plentiful 
for  parties  short  of  rations.  Therefore,  the  heroism  (?)  of  men 
in  command,  for  living  on  starved  and  frozen  mules  and  for 
other  hardships  endured  in  the  mountains,  is  a  humbug  and  out- 
rage. The  mules  should  have  been  rollicking  in  a  friendly 
vale,  and  the  party  living  on  jack-rabbits  and  venison. 

Found  the  weather  warm  and  pleasant  when  we  got  to  Salt 
Lake  Valley  again.  Being  acquainted  with  a  young  man 
(working  for  Gen.  D.  H.  Wells)  who  wanted  a  vacation  for  a 
week  or  two,  I  took  his  place— hauling  lumber  from  a  saw- 
mill to  town. 

Wells  was  third  in  authority  in  the  Mormon  Church  and 
Masonic  Order ;  had  two  wives  (sisters),  at  this,  his  principal 
home,  where  they  lived  in  good  style,  and  several  others  in 
other  parts  of  town.  His  appearance  to  an  unadvised  outsider 
was  that  of  a  clever  gentleman.  He  commanded  the  Mormon 
Militia,  which  were  now  having  their  annual  training.  I  had 
bought  a  horse  and  saddle — to  travel  on  my  own  hook  to  learn 
more  of  this  famed  secret  brother-  and  sisterhood  of  masons — 
loaned  it  to  one  of  the  boys  to  attend  the  training  near  town, 
and  the  saddle  blanket  being  a  fancy  one,  the  General  himself 
did  not  disdain  the  use  of  it  from  a  wandering  Gentile,  in  com- 
manding the  "mighty  host,"  the  same  that  "whipped  the 
United  States"  under  the  renowned  Albert  Sidney  Johnson, 
President  Buchanan  and  company,  in  186L  Or  rather,  "God 
did  it,"'  the  secret  brethren  say. 

To  an  inexperienced  outsider,  it  is  a  real  mystery  how 
Brigham  Young  and  secret  brethren  out-generalled,  out-dip- 
lomated,  out-witted  and  stripped  our  Government  agents,  and 
people  in  that  squabble.  They  had  done  it  before,  and  have 
done  it  ever  since. 


All  about  the  Mokmons.  47 

Those  who  worship  secrecy,  tact  and  success  alone,  should 
plant  flowers  on  his  grave  and  revere  the  name  of  Brigham 
Young. 

They  had  committed  many  excesses  and  horrible  crimes 
against  outsiders  in  their  secret  order  and  tribal  ways ;  openl}^, 
as  well  as  secretly,  dominated,  repudiated  and  defied  the 
Government,  while  Brigham  Young  was  made  Governor  of  the 
Gentiles  in  Utah,  (being  already  chief  of  the  Mormons),  John 
T>.  Lee,  Indian  Agent,  etc.,  etc.  They  having  more  influence  at 
Washington  than  full-fledged  American  Citizens,  because  they 
had  brother  masons  there — sent  by  thoughtless  outsiders. 

At  last  to  appease  public  sentiment,  by  throwing  dirt  in  its 
eyes,  and  to  blindly  aid  and  assist  the  secret  brethren,  an  army 
of  near  10,000  men,  richly  equipped  with  wagon  and  pack  trains 
and  supplies  for  fe7i  years,  was  sent  out  to  Utah ;  with  the  usual 
catering  claptrap  and  out-cry  of  "enforcing  the  laws  and 
crushing  the  Mormons."  Then  all  was  turned  over  ~  almost 
given  to  the  before  declared  enemy,  but  now  "repenitent  and 
industrious  citizens,"  who,  meanwhile,  among  other  outrages, 
butchered  in  cold  blood  130  men,  women  and  children,  appro- 
priating entirel}^  the  wealthy  emigrant  train,  stock  and  fortunes 
of  their  victims.  All  this  with  the  utmost  impunity  and  almost 
in  sight  of  a  court-house  of  justice  (?). 

That  was  a  white  man's  secret  order,  tribal  tribute,  led  by 
a  ring  favorite  of  the  Government— John  D.  Lee. 

And  right  there  to-day  is  one  of  the  "grave  yards !  " 

Wagons,  mules,  harness  and  fire-arms  were  most  needed 
by  the  brethren  at  that  time  in  their  business.  They  worked 
diplomacy,  tact  and  treachery  on  the  Kentucky-California- 
bound  emigrants,  thus  disarming  them,  but  could  not  secure 
their  property  in  peace  without  killing  them,  so  they  could  not 
be  "revengeful  and  make  trouble." 

But  they  could  get  the  Government  trains  securely  by  dip- 
lomacy and  secret  intrigue,  without  killing  a  man,  woman  or 
child,  though  they  paid  a  trifle  of  the  money,  meanwhile  filched 
from  the  Government  in  the  deal. 

The  army  was  disbanded  at  Camp  Floyd  when  the  sup- 
plies had  been  brought  to  their  doors,  where  they  were  "sold" 
to  the  brethren,  whom  Ofiicials  are  secretly  sworn  to  assist 


48  S.\LT  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

and  befriend,  and  whose  secrets  they  are  sworn  to  "ever  conceal 
and  never  reveal." 

Wagons  worth  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  there  then 
sold  for  fifteen  dollars.  Arms  worth  twenty  dollars  for  two 
dollars,  etc.,  etc. 

Brigham  "bought"  $30,000  worth  of  pork  at  one  cent  a 
pound,  and  then  re-sold  it  to  Gentiles  at  sixty  cents  a  pound, 
etc.,  etc. 

Much  of  the  supplies  had  just  previously  been  bought  here 
of  the  Mormons  at  fabulous  prices. 

Great  quantities  of  leather,  harness,  cavalry  equipments, 
clothing,  blankets,  small  stores,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  were  likewise 
turned  over  to  the  secret  brethren,  who  dominate  and  direct 
the  action  of  Government  and  Courts  within  their  influence. 

I  was  told  that  they  were  even  allowed  to  run  off  Govern- 
ment mules  by  the  band,  and  then  sell  them  back  to  the  Govern- 
ment thus  prostituted,  which  then  turned  them  over  to  the 
brethren  for  a  song.  The  Mormons  were  thus  greatly  assisted 
in  their  business  at  the  expense  of  the  people,  and  their  era  of 
prosperity  began  at  these  fruitful  victories  over  the  Govern- 
ment. Mormons  believe  this  out-come  to  have  been  secretly 
fixed,  when  the  expedition  was  gotten  up  and  sent  to  them. 

The  matter  of  the  Mountain-Meadow  massacre,  and  other 
like  tributes  to  secrecy,  they  postponed  with  secret  influence 
at  court,  for  twenty  years,  until  Eoyal  Master  Lee  had  gotten 
in  bad  standing  in  the  order,  and  his  life  was  about  run  out 
anyhow,  when  the  brethren  consented  to  give  what  was  left  of 
him  alone  up,  as  a  sacrifice  to  appease  and  blind  the  people ; 
as  if  they  had  lost  their  secret  influence  at  court,  and  justice 
now  prevailed.  This  was  to  be  a  receipt  in  full  for  such 
cowardly,  treacherous,  brutal  murder  for  plunder  of  hundreds 
of  disarmed  men,  women  and  children  by  well-knoivn  masons 
under  the  shadow  of  Court-houses  of  Justice  (?)  and  the  United 
States  flag. 

That  company  of  emigrants  could  successfully  defend 
themselves  against  the  Indians,  but  could  not  do  so  against  a 
gang  of  secret  ring  favorites  in  the  Government.  Nor  can  any- 
body when  the  courts  are  thus  subverted. 

About  November  first,  started  on  my  travels,  horseback,  to 


Q 

Hi 


d 

o 

« 
o 


50  Salt  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

the  Soutli.  Weather  in  the  v;illey  was  Avarm  and  delightful, 
while  snow  could  be  seen  drifting  and  Hying  high  up  on  the 
mountain  peaks.  One  of  these,  Mt.  Nebo,  was  said  to  be 
over  11,000  feet  above  the  sea. 

A  hundred  miles,  and  I  was  out  of  Salt  Lake  Yallej,  over 
the  summit  into  a  mountainous  desert  region  (with  some 
watered  spots)  sloping  towards  the  Colorado  river,  some  four 
hundred  miles  to  the  South. 

Salt  Lake  Valley  is  the  only  farming  country  of  any  mag- 
nitude between  the  98th  longitude  and  California,  except  far  to 
the  North.  This  valley  is  thickly  settled  by  the  Mormons, 
with  a  considerable  number  of  Gentiles  at  and  to  the  North  of 
Salt  Lake  City. 

The  Mormons  live  in  villages  with  extensive  lots  for  gar- 
dens and  fruit  purposes  ;  have  their  farming  and  pasture  lauds 
fenced  in  common,  and  dig  and  own  their  water  ditches  like- 
wise. 

They  adopted  this  system  of  living  in  towns  as  a  protection 
against  the  Indians  ;  but  as  they  are  confined  to  small  farms  of 
say,  twenty-five  acres,  of  which  there  are  ten  to  fifteen 
thousand,  the  disadvantage  in  living  apart  from  them  is  off-set 
by  the  saving  in  fencing,  and  social  and  school  advantages 
gained. 

"Wherever  a  body  or  spot  of  soil  is  susceptible  of  irrigation, 
there  is  a  Mormon  village.  The  principal  ones  of  these  settle- 
ments, for  some  75  miles  after  leaving  Salt  Lake  Valley,  are 
Filmore— once  the  capitol — and  Beaver,  on  Salt  Creek  and 
twenty-five  miles  from  the  Mountain-Meadow  graveyard.  St. 
George  is  350  miles  from  Salt  Lake  and  on  the  Kio  Virgin ; 
there  being  some  small  settlements  between  Beaver  and 
St.  George. 

Wandering  along  leisurely,  reached  St.  George  in  about  a 
month  from  Salt  Lake  ;  found  it  a  fruitful  oasis  in  the  desert, 
nicely  situated  and  laid  out  and  of  considerable  importance  and 
population.  Snow  seldom  lays  on  the  ground  ;  a  climate  semi- 
tropical  and  as  salubrious  as  can  be  found  most  anywhere  ;  en- 
joyed the  best  appetite  here  I  ever  had.  The  soil  is  mostly  a 
bed  of  sand,  cleared  off  sage-brush,  and  water  brought  on  it 
at  an  expense  in  labor  of  twenty  to  thirty  dollars  per  acre. 


All  about  the  Mormons.  51 


Remained  here  a  montli  with  and  working  for  an  intelligent 
Yankee  Saint,  and  they  called  me  "  Dodge's  Clerk."  This  is 
how  I  clerked  :  Hauled  lumber  and  wood  from  a  mountain, 
twenty  to  thirty  miles  off;  Avent  on  an  Indian  raid  of  a  few 
days  with  a  local  company,  commanded  by  a  General ;  anyhow, 
he  was  a  clever  and  agreeable  man  for  the  occasion,  as  were  also 
the  others  of  the  company.  Stock  had  been  stolen  from  the 
range  by  the  Navajoes,  and  the  company  went  to  overtake  them, 
but  did  not  succeed.  Took  a  load  of  grape  roots,  cuttings,  fig 
trees,  and  other  things,  to  sell  in  the  then  extreme  southern 
settlements  on  the  Muddy  Creek,  130  miles  away,  and  twenty 
from  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Colorado  river.  Cotton  was 
being  raised  here. 

Sold  out  mostly  on  Sunday,  as  the  saints  had  gathered  to 
worship  and  do  business.  Remember  their  singing,  "  Hard 
times  come  again  no  more."  Sunday  is  the  principal  business 
or  trading  day  in  mining  camps  and  other  new  settlements  with 
the  Gentiles  also. 

The  religious  phase  of  the  Sabbath  or  Sunday  question,  as 
to  a  particular  day  or  date,  is  a  tangled  muddle  anyway. 
About  every  day  in  the  Aveek  is  claimed  as  such  by  some 
numerous  sect  or  people.  In  studying  the  question  we  find, 
that  the  changes  in  official  calendars  and  the  difference  in  time, 
on  account  of  the  motion  of  the  earth,  makes  it  too  difficult  to 
solve,  to  be  honestly  certain  as  to  time,  so  it  seems  captious 
for  people  to  quarrel  as  to  the  same.  Let  the  general  govern- 
ment name  the  day,  as  one  of  rest  for  man  and  beast,  and  en- 
force its  reasonable  observance. 

An  island  and  longitude  in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  according  to 
our  official  calendar,  has  two  Sundays  together  for  any  vessel 
sailing  West,  and  none  for  those  sailing  East.  They  must  drop 
or  gain  a  Sunday  in  passing  this  longitude. 

I  also  got  a  load  of  rock  salt  at  a  mountain,  or  mount,  of 
salt  there.  Much  of  it  is  so  clear,  one  can  read  print  through 
it  some  inches  thick.     Is  mined  with  drill  and  powder. 

"Salt  Deposits  in  Nevada. — Vast  Fields  of  Pure  Rock  Salt  to  be 
Found  in  Lincoln  County. 

In  Ijincoln  County,  on  the  Rio  Virgin,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
deposits  of  rock  salt  on  the  continent,  says  the  Dayton  News  Reporter.   It 


52  Salt  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

is  found  in  hUls  500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  valley,  and  chemically  pure. 
Blocks  of  it  over  a  foot  square  are  so  transparent  that  one  may  read  a 
pajjer  through  them.  So  solid  is  this  suit  that  it  must  be  blasted  out  the 
same  as  if  it  were  rock.  This  deposit  of  salt  lies  about  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  west  of  the  Rio  Virgin  and  three  miles  south  of  the  Mormon  village 
of  St.  Thomas.  There  a  body  of  this  salt  is  exposed  for  a  length  of  nearly 
two  miles,  which  is  about  half  a  mile  wide  and  of  unknown  dejjth.  The 
dejjosit  runs  north  and  soxith  and  is  seen  on  the  surface  for  a  distance  of 
over  nine  miles.  In  places  the  canons  have  cut  through  it  to  a  dej^th  of 
sixty  feet.  At  these  jjoiuts  the  Hiko  company  formerly  blasted  out  the 
salt  required  in  workiug  tlieir  ores.  This  great  deposit  of  salt  is  situated 
at  an  altitude  of  1,100  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  is  undoubtedly 
very  ancient,  as  in  one  place  it  has  been  covered  by  a  flow  of  basaltic  rock. 
In  other  places  it  is  covered  to  a  depth  of  from  one  to  five  feet  with  vol- 
canic tufa.  At  Sand  Springs,  in  Churchill  County,  besides  the  salt  that 
may  be  shoveled  up  from  the  surface,  there  is  found  a  deposit  of  rock  salt 
fourteen  feet  in  dtpth.  This  salt  is  as  transparent  as  the  clearest  ice  and 
does  not  contain  a  particle  of  any  foreign  or  deleterioiis  substance.  It 
may  be  quarried  the  same  as  if  it  was  marble.  It  is  said  that  one  man 
can  quarry  and  wheel  out  five  tons  a  dny  of  this  salt.  It  is  only  necessary 
to  grind  it  to  render  it  fit  for  table  or  dairy  u^e.  Sixty  or  seventy  mUes 
north  of  this,  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  Dun  Glen  range  of  mountains,  is 
the  great  Humboldt  salt  field.  This  is  about  fifteen  miles  long  and  six 
wide.  In  summer,  when  the  surface  water  has  evaporated,  salt  to  the 
depth  of  three  or  four  inches  can  be  scraped  up  from  the  surface. 
Beneath  the  surface  is  a  stratum  of  pure  rock  salt  of  unknown  depth. 
This  rook  salt  is  so  hard,  that  in  order  to  get  it  out  rapidly  it  is  necessary 
to  blast  it.  Were  a  branch  railroad  to  run  to  one  of  these  deposits,  salt 
woi;ld  soon  be  a  cheaj)  article  in  the  United  States.  As  there  are  in  the 
same  localities  great  quantities  of  soda,  borax  and  other  valuable  minerals, 
it  is  probable  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  Avhen  some  of  them  will  be 
tapi^ed  by  branch  railroads,  which  could  be  cheaply  laid  down  through 
the  level  districts. " 

My  route  to  and  from  the  Muddy  settlements  and  Salt 
Bank  lay  mostly  along  the  Kio  Virgin  "  river "  (as  most  an}- 
stream  is  called  in  sections  where  water  is  scarce),  the  road 
crossing  it  in  the  quick-sand  many  times.  The  Indians  (Piutes) 
had  in  cultivation  a  fcAv  patches  on  this  stream,  and  the  Saints 
had  started  a  settlement,  or  two.  But  the  bottom  is  too  narrow 
to  till,  except  in  garden  patches. 

With  the  exception  of  bunch-grass,  very  wide  apart,  some 
sage  and  grease  brush,  the  surrounding  country  is  a  barren, 
dreary,  rocky  waste.     There  is  no  soil  on  the  highlands,  even 


All  about  the  Mormons.  53 

if  there  was  water. — The  principal  Avagon  route  from  Salt 
Lake  to  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  leaves  the  Rio  Virgin  by  the 
most  rugged  hill  I  have  ever  seen  to  be  travelled  over 
much  with  wagons.  It  is  two  or  three  miles  to  the  top, 
steep,  and  crossed  with  ledges  of  rock.  While  I  was  passing 
it,  gazing  at  one  of  a  train,  high  up  on  the  hill,  as  the 
wagon  was  being  tugged  along  with  a  well  doubled  up 
team ;  it  broke  loose,  tumbled  back,  scattering  itself  between 
there  and  the  bottom.  I  passed  over  the  same  route  afterwards. 

The  Mormons,  as  a  people,  are  as  prosperous,  contented 
and  happy,  perhaps,  as  any  other  people,  who  have  to  earn  by 
toil  about  all  they  get,  and  their  government  is  so  administered 
that  they  come  very  near  getting,  holding  and  enjoying  all  they 
make ;  unless  the  tenth  of  what  they  produce,  that  goes  for 
their  general  protection,  welfare  and  enlargement,  be  excepted. 
Inasmuch,  as  they  would  need  no  costly  protection,  if  polygamy 
was  not  openly  practiced  by  the  few,  so  long  as  similar  secret 
order  governments  of  oath-bound  brotherhoods  (called  "  masons" 
etc.,  instead  of  "church")  are  tolerated  by  the  people. 

The  most  of  the  Mormons  dislike  polygamy,  and  it  may 
die.  But  it  is  not  the  worst  feature  of  the  system  of  Mormon- 
ism,  as  to  the  general  government  and  the  full-fledged  citizens 
of  the  same,  if  the  government  is  to  be  supreme  and  un- 
controlled by  secret  alien  kingly  governments  within. 

There  are  but  few  salaried  officials  in  the  Mormon  govern- 
ment— even  the  bishops  draw  no  pay.  The  more  able  and  am- 
bitious frequently  acquire  considerable  and  exceptional  fortune, 
but  it  is  made  by  rugged  industry,  or  filched  from  Gentiles. 
They  are  not  permitted  to  trick  or  rob  each  other  of  their 
property,  under  any  pretext.  Lawyers  are  kept  from  poAver 
entirely  —they  are  treated  as  pests,  as  grass-hoppers  and  chine- 
bugs  ;  except  sometimes  in  dealing  with  outsiders.  It  is  the 
business  of  the  officials  and  dignitaries  of  the  order  to  counsel, 
advise  and  protect  any  faithful  brother  in  ordinary  business 
pursuits  and  in  their  troubles  with  each  other  and  with  out- 
siders. 

In  case  of  trouble  with  outsiders,  assistance  is  extended  in 
usual  and  natural  ways,  and  also  by  machinery  of  the  secret 
order,  which  is  worked  in  the  dark. 


54  Salt  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

They  are  a  secret  masonic  order  of  various  degrees,  and 
boiiud  together  with  masonic  oaths,  although  there  is  nothing 
secret,  sly,  or  mj'sterious  in  the  first  degree,  whereby  any  per- 
son, and  Indians  in  large  numbers,  are  taken  into  the  "church" 
or  order  Avithout  hesitation.  They  constitute  a  secret,  mystic 
and  complete  government  within,  and  distinct  from  that  of  the 
state  ;  an  irresponsible  and  foreign  government,  to  ivhich  fhey 
sivear,  with  masonic  oaths,  supreme  allegiance. 

But  yet  they  are  allowed  to  join  in  maintaining  the  forms 
and  pomp  of  courts  and  government  of  the  Gentiles,  for  use  in 
dealing  with  and  filching  the  outsider,  and  as  a  fortress  of  pro- 
tection against  them.  Making  of  it  a  cat's-paw,  a  tool,  a  trap, 
a  blind,  a  handy  machine,  worked  and  controlled  by  their 
secret,  oath-bound  obligations  in  the  dark,  where  five  men  may 
overcome  and  override  five  thousand  true  citizens,  which  is 
vevj  fine  for  the  secret  brethren.  But  the  Gentile,  or  outsider, 
must  suffer  accordingly,  for  he  has  no  assurance  of  security  or 
justice,  when  treated  or  done  for  by  either  of  the  courts  and 
governments  thus  managed  and  controlled  in  the  dark.  The)' 
are  the  power  behind  the  throne,  though  it  may  be  played  so 
fine  that,  if  the  victim  be  ignorant,  he  does  not  understand  it, 
and  will  blindly  vote  to  sustain  it. 

About  the  only  verdicts  rendered  by  the  courts  of  Utah 
against  Mormons  in  good  standing  and  influence  in  the  order, 
are  secured  by  special  legislation  of  Congress,  which  would  be 
overridden  were  Utah  a  state;  and  even  in  these  comparative  few 
cases,  they  have  frequently  beaten  the  cases  against  them  by 
their  secret  influence  in  appeals,  just  as  other  masons  do. 

Polygamy  is  but  a  red  rag  of  masonry,  the  spears  and 
knives  to  stab  the  government  are  hid  behind  it. 

The  Chinese,  Jews  and  Indians,  in  the  United  States,  also 
cherish,  maintain,  and  are  governed  by,  a  distinct  alien  govern- 
ment of  their  own;  a  state  within  the  state.  But  they  have  the 
modesty  to  refrain,  at  least  openly,  from  taking  part  in  the 
government  of  the  Republic.  They  do  not  intrigue  and  scheme 
for  office  under  it,  or  to  judge  and  govern  anybody  but  them- 
selves, which  they  do  by  their  own  alien  governments.  They 
love  their  big  sun-flower  titles,  and  pagan  pomp  and  "mysteries" 
of  idolatry,  and  worship  the  shades  of  Mogul  Kings. 


All  about  the  Mormons.  55 

Tbougli  such  people  be  naturalized  or  boru  iu  this  country, 
they  are  not  real  citizens  at  heart  of  the  Republic,  but  are 
practically  foreigners,  aliens,  owing  first  allegiance  and  belong- 
ing to  their  own  peculiar,  secret,  class  and  tribal  governments, 
ivherein  is  their  supreme  authority  and  laic,  tvhich  they  are  sworn 
by  horrible,  blood-curdling,  masonic  oaths  and  penalties,  to  clierish 
and  obey! 

What  then  becomes  of  our  Government  with  these  masons 
in  office  ? 

Where  is  there  any  standing  room  for  it  with  them  in 
command  ? 

They  cut  it  up  and  prostitute  it  as  they  do  the  marriage 
relation,  and  wave  it  as  another  red  rag — iu  another  phase  of 
their  play  —to  divert  the  sight  and  sense  of  the  people,  where- 
by they  are  thus  shaded  to  get  in  their  deadly  work  in  the 
dark,  thus  working  for  universal  conquest. 

The  religious  phase  and  the  polygamy  rag  of  Mormonism 
is  but  lightly  considered  by  the  more  intelligent  Mormons.  It 
is  their  Government  that  interests  and  attaches  them.  The}'  do 
not  conceal  this  in  individual  discussion.  They  know  the  cor- 
ruption and  jjrostitution  of  our  Government  so  well,  that, 
instead  of  joining  to  reform  and  cl-ean  it,  they  declare  it  an 
"ignominious  and  hopeless  failure." 

And  we  must  honestly  concede  that  this  is  j^artl}'  true. 
For,  with  the  boundless  natural  wealth  from  ocean  to  ocean, 
the  country  even  already  stocked  with  buffalo,  elk,  deer,  fish 
and  turkey, —  the  mass  of  the  people  ought  not  to  be  mere 
slaves  to  unrequited  toil,  corruption  and  tyranny.  And  could 
not  have  been  much  less  prosperous  under  any  other  form  of 
government. 

The  Mormons,  indeed,  even  under  their  masonic-pagan 
theocracy  or  kingdom,  have  been  more  prosperous  than  the 
mass  of  real  American  citizens  that  have  surrounded  them. 

This  is  also  true  of  other  secret  masonic  gangs  elsewhere, 
and  among  the  people  surrounding  them. 

But  they  have  stabbed,  drawn,  sucked  and  fattened  on  the 
heart's  blood  of  the  Government  and  the  people. 

In.deed,  the  prosperity  of  many  an  individual  of  the  gang 


56  Salt  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

represents  the  downfall,  ravage  and  misery  of  hundreds  of  the 
people, — men,  women  and  little  children. 

Such  "prosperity''  (?)  need  not  be  boasted  of  to  be  be- 
lieved. There  are  too  many  victims  who  too  keenly  feel  and 
suffer  the/act  of  such  "prosperity"  continually 

At  heart  they  do  not  like  or  respect  even  the  form,  or  the 
great  and  beautiful  sentiment  of  our  government,  which  is  the 
religion  of  real  liberty  loving  Americans,  who,  in  the  face  of 
all  history  and  suffering,  will  fight  to  maintain  it,  work  and 
vote  to  reform  it,  as  their  only  hope  for  liberty  and  justice, 
and  will  never  give  it  up  for  any  gang,  though  they  irrigate  the 
ground  with  their  blood ! 

Disdaining  and  detesting  both  the  spirit  and  form  of  our 
government,  as  not  secret,  selfish,  pagan  and  kingly  enough 
for  them,  therefore,  whenever  they  take  part  in  it,  it  is  not  for 
it  to  work  evenly,  or  to  reform  it,  or  clean  it  of  the  gang ;  but 
to  secretly  conspire  to  corrupt,  debauch  and  use  it  for  a  cat's- 
paw  to  filch  the  people,  and  for  a  fortress  to  shield  them  against 
their  victims. 

But  while  scheming  and  playing  for  place  and  power  in  it, 
with  brazen  sarcasm,  they  sing  patriotic  songs  and  wave  the 
American  flag. 

A  strong,  centralized  government  like  England  or  Germany 
might,  if  any,  safely  tolerate  various  foreign  secret  government 
rings  within  their  own,  as  they  cannot  exert  as  much  influence 
and  power  there  as  in  a  republic.  Yet  these  governments 
have  had  to  watch  and  keep  down  all  secret,  alien  govern- 
ments and  rings  within  their  own,  in  order  to  keep  their  own 
power  supreme  and  from  being  defied  and  overthrown. 

I  believe,  that  belonging  to  any  secret  sworn  brotherhood, 
disqualifies  a  person  for  the  holding  of  any  public  ofiice  in 
Germany  and  other  governments  in  Europe,  Central  and  South 
America.  Consequently  Jews  and  other  masons  belonging  to 
secret  alien  governments,  are  punished  for  their  crimes  like 
other  people. 

This  has  to  he  so  in  republics  if  ilicy  are  to  endure. 

All  who  vote  or  hold  office  under  the  general  or  state  govern- 
ments, should  be  dependent  on  that  government  alone  for 
protection,    justice    and  government ;   so   that   all  would  be 


All  about  the  Mormons.  57 

interested  in  its  reform  and  purity;  making  the  one  govern- 
ment  simple,  safe,  supreme  and  evenly  just  to  all  aliJce. 

Let  those  who  are  so  selfish,  clannish,  crafty,  sly-sneaking 
in  the  dark,  grasping  pagan  and  kingly  as  to  not  be  satisfied 
with  this,  live  and  do  as  other  and  legal  aliens  do.  For,  aliens 
and  often  traitors  they  are. 

"When  bad  men  combine  [even  by  blood-curdling  oaths 

in  the  dark],  the  good  must  associate,  else  they  will  fall  one 

by  one,  an  unpitied  sacrifice  in  a  contemptible  struggle." 

"A  monarchy  may  be  free,  whilst  a  repubUc  maybe  a 

tyranny."  "When  "servile  millions  kiss  the  spoilers'  rod,  crouch 

at  their  feet  and  tremble  at  their  nod." 

As  to  the  Mormon  wing  or  phase  of  this  vital  subject,  let 
us  not  forget  that,  like  other  communities,  multitudes  and 
orders,  there  are  good,  bad  and  indifferent  people  among  them. 
A  Gentile  might  live  and  deal  with  them  for  years  without  any 
trouble,  if  himself  be  just,  and  he  does  not  oppose  their  system. 
Being  friendly  towards  them,  should  he  get  into  trouble  with 
another  Gentile  or  a  Mormon  ;  the  Mormon  courts,  as  well  as 
the  other,  are  open  to  them.  As  they  are  both  controlled  by 
the  masons,  they  stand  a  better  show  for  justice  in  the  more 
simple  Mormon  court,  and  if  justice  is  what  they  want,  both 
being  Gentiles,  they  are  quite  surely  satisfied  with  the  result 
therein,  which  is  not  delayed,  and  they  do  not  have  to  hinj  it ' 
there  being  no  "  bar." 

But  if  one  is  outspoken,  or  otherwise  earnestly  opposes 
their  secret  order  system  of  government,  he  does  not  stand  the 
ghost  of  a  show  for  justice  in  Utah. 

In  the  case  of  a  Gentile  against  a  Mormon,  or  a  Mormon 
against  a  Gentile,  the  outsider  stands  just  the  same  show  for 
justice  that  he  does  outside  of  Utah  in  a  court  or  courts  con- 
trolled by  members  of  secret  order  brotherhood  governments. 

Any  observer  can  know,  and  all  voters  should  know,  the 
kind  of  a  show  that  is,  without  learning  by  hard  and  miserable 
experience. 

"  The  whole  machinery  of  the  state,  all  the  apparatus  of 

the  system  of  government,  and  its  varied  workings,  end  in 

simply  bringing  twelve  good  men  into  a  box." 

As  a  rule,  the  Mormons  deal  honestly  among  themselves  ; 


68  Salt  Lake  City  andUtah. 

sometimes,  however,  they  have  to  kill  or  imprison  one  of  their 
number  for  horse  stealing,  betrayal,  or  other  crimes  against  a 
brother.  Thoy  transact  their  business  and  run  their  courts 
ivithout  lawyers  or  other  vermin,  to  which  they  owe  much  of 
their  prosperity  and  peace.  But  this  could  he  done  just  as  well  by 
the  2)cople  under  our  form  of  government.  No  honest  court  re- 
quires a  lawyer  in  or  about  it.  And  the  same  price  paid  for 
their  scalps  by  the  state,  as  that  now  paid  for  more  human  and 
less  destructive  vermin,  would  make  them  harmless. 

The  Mormons  have  no  orthodox  or  salaried  preachers. 
Everybody  is  expected  to  be  able  to  render  something  of  a 
moral  speech  in  meeting,  and,  being  raised  to  it,  they  are  more 
apt  and  able  in  that  way  than  other  congregations.  They  ab- 
hor profanity,  and  think  about  all  Gentiles  to  be  immoral  and 
profane.  It  was  said  by  some,  that  I  was  the  only  Gentile  they 
knew,  who  was  not  profane.  They  tell  of  mules,  gotten  of 
Gentiles,  that  could  not  be  managed,  or  made  to  pull,  unless 
swore  at  by  note. 

Their  poor  and  distressed  are  liberally  provided  for  from 
a  general  fund  ;  there  are  none  of  them  beggars. 

A  large  portion  of  them  are  emigrants  from  other  countries 
and  their  children  ;  there  are  some  from  every  section  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  The  foreigners  are  principally 
English,  Danes,  Welsh,  Norwegians,  etc.  As  the  Mormons 
settled  in  Utah  in  1848,  and  were  quite  a  body  before  in  Mis- 
souri and  Illinois,  a  majority  of  them  were  "  born  in  the  church" 
or  order,  and  on  American  soil.  They  are  masons  therefore 
more  of  necessity  than  of  choice, —which  cannot  be  said  of 
Gentile   masons,   etc.     They   are   now   about  300,000  strong. 

The  founders,  chiefs,  etc.,  were  and  are  Yankee  free-masons. 
They  can  pay  to  their  brethren  in  Congress,  courts  and  army 
big  sums  of  money  for  bribery  purposes  and  their  ^mutual 
masonic  obligations,  and  death  penalties  for  betrayal  insures 
secrecy  and  safety ;  and  they  are  bound  to  assist  their  brethren 
without  pay. 

The  Mormon  endowment  house  ceremonies,  oaths,  obliga- 
tions, penalties,  etc.,  etc.,  are  masonic. 

The  founders  of  the  church-order  set  themselves  up  as  an- 
other Moses  or  Mohammed,     and  their  Sunday  school  books 


ill  '„i'i>': 


P 


W 

Eh 
P 

w 


Ph 


(69) 


60  Salt  Lake  City  and  Utah. 

teacli  it  as  truth  as  to  Moses.  Their  secret  order  "  church  "  is, 
like  other  speculative  or  spurious  masonry,  founded  on  hum- 
bug pagan  "mysteries."  Their  bible  being  discovered  and 
attached  with  about  the  same  silly  legend  as  that  of  the  "Great- 
est jewel  and  mystery"  of  speculative  masonry. 

They  have  the  "mystery"  bible  of  their  own,  but  use  ours 
principally,  in  which  they  are  well  versed.  They  have  much 
of  it  memorized.  They  are  much  given  to  j^rayer,  and  always 
pray  for  salvation  through  Jesus.  Not  all  of  their  dignitaries 
practice  polygamy,  and,  according  to  the  records  of  the  "courts 
of  justice,"  there  are  but  few  cases  of  polj^gamy  in  Utah.  But 
according  to  my  observations  and  more  reliable  information 
than  ring-ridden  courts,  about  one  married  man  in  ten  of  them 
is  a  polygamist.  Though,  for  saying  this  of  any  one  of  them, 
he  could  prosecute  me  for  libel  at  the  people's  expense,  and 
say,  "  Damn  you,  prove  it,"  and  I  could  not  establish  the  plain 
fact  in  the  courts.  Such  is  their  secret  influence  and  power  at 
court.     And  it  is  as  wide  and  extensive  as  masonry. 

The  greatest  comfort  and  protection  a  polygamist's  wife  has 
is  in  her  children  (they  call  the  other  wives  of  their  father 
"aunt").  A  boy  will  not  see  his  mother  abused  or  discarded 
if  he  can  help  it,  which  they  often  do.  Still  several  sisters  will 
frequently  marry  one  man,  one  after  the  other,  and  the  latter 
ones  ought  to  know  pretty  near  what  they  are  about— as  near 
as  you  or  I  could  tell  them. 

Those  of  the  saints  who  have  travelled  about  and  abroad, 
preach  of  the  immorality  and  depravity,  and  dangers  of  the 
outside  world,  and — like  in  other  secret  lodges — picture  Utah 
and  the  folds  of  the  order  as  the  only  place  where  virtue  and 
truth  is  regarded  and  protected. 

They  also  make  it  appear,  that  all  those  who  have  taken  an 
active  part  against  them  at  any  time,  have  been  accursed  by 
God  and  man ;  that  many  of  them  have  repented,  and  beg  of 
them  in  humility  and  tears  for  mercy  and  forgiveness. 

If  according  to  the  courts  there  is  so  little  polygamy  in 
Utah,  or  if  it  be  no  crime  ;  nor  a  crime  to  make  an  occasional 
killing  and  tribute  against  outsiders — as  is  done  by  the  gang 
everywhere  with  imj)unity — then  the  Mormons  are  an  except- 
ionally moral,  virtuous,  civil,  cheerful,  industrious  and  prosper- 


All  about  the  Mokmons.  61 

ous  people.  By  the  court  records  tliey  are  most  exception- 
ally virtuous.  And  if  these  questionable  deeds  are  the 
work  of  a  small  element  only,  which  I  believe  to  be  the  case, 
then  they  are  that  anyway,  and  in  truth. 

In  four  respects  the  Mormons  are  as  far  in  advance  of 
the  Gentiles,  as  John  Brown  was  of  the  republican  party. 

First. — In  that  they  permit  no  gangs  of  parasites  or  artful 
tricksters  to  practice  among  them,  so  they  all  know  and 
understand  their  laws  alike  ;  cases  are  judged  and  decided  on 
their  merits ;  and  not  being  so  many  middlemen,  they  get  the 
profit  of  their  labor. 

Second.— They  first  made  woman  suffrage  universal,  and 
they  were  no  more  "insulted"  at  the  polls  in  Utah  than  at  the 
post-offices.  Those  who  would  keep  politics  too  secret,  corrupt 
and  unclean  for  their  wives,  sisters  and  daughters  to  know  or 
touch,  when  their  welfare  and  happiness  is  so  greatly  depend- 
ent on  its  purity,  and  who  think  it  more  out  of  place  for  an 
American  woman  to  vote,  than  for  an  English  woman  to  be 
chief  ruler  and  make  political  speeches,  should  not  complain 
when  they  reap  the  result. 

Third. — They  carry  out  and  enforce  their  temperance 
principles  and  laws,  without  flaws,  quirks  or  foolishness. 
There  are  hardly  any  saloons,  gambling,  or  prostitution  known 
in  their  community. 

Fourth. — In  their  management  of  the  Indians. 

And  yet,  an  outsider  really  has  not  equal  security  or  even 
justice  anywhere  where  their  alien  government  or  secret  in- 
fluence controls  the  government  or  courts,  as  could  be  vividly 
shown  by  the  miserable  experience  of  many  falsely  imprisoned, 
or  robbed  of  their  property,  and  by  the  bleached  bones  of  so 
many  others  that  have  been  "  run  over  the  ridge." 

Having,  b}^  secret  intrigue,  conquered  the  United  States 
Army,  etc.,  when  in  their  infancy,  and  Congress  and  the  courts 
ever  since,  they  have  strong  hopes  of  complete  control  and  of 
universal  conquest.     Polygamy  is  their  red  rag  in  the  conflict. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Travellers  I  met  in  Ftah. — Leave  Utah  for  tlie  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  countrv. 
— The  company  I  travel  with. — Danites. — The  Indians  on  the  road. — 
A  Mormon  "miracle." — Indian  dialect. — Sand  storm. — A  mine  in  the 
desert. — The  region  from  St.  George  to  California. — Arizona. — San 
Bernardino. — Los  Angeles,  and  that  coi;ntry.— Climate,  soil,  people 
and  business  in  1867  and  1884:. — Land,  titles,  etc. 

On  the  roads,  or  by  the  ways  in  Utah,  I  met,  or  fell  in  with — 
besides  the  local  travel — wandering  Gentiles  like  myself,  army 
deserters — who  were  aided  by  the  Mormons,  as  they  hate  and 
detest  the  Government  they  prostitute — companies  of  miners 
on  horse-  and  mule-back,  with  camping  outfits,  from  Montana, 
Idaho,  Arizona,  Mexico  and  other  sections,  bound  for  other 
fields  abounding  in  riches  for  them,  in  their  imaginations  and 
faith.  Years  afterwards  I  again  met  some  of  the  very  same  in 
other  places,  they  were  still  prospecting. 

Soon  after  returning  to  St.  George  with  my  load  of  salt,  in 
January  1867,  I  left  the  Mormon  country  for  Los  Angeles, 
Southern  California,  450  miles  distant  from  St.  George,  and  800 
miles  from  Salt  Lake  Cit}",  much  of  which  is  wagon-wheel 
measurement. 

The  company  I  travelled  with  was  composed  of  three 
Mormons  with  their  families,  going  to  join  another  wing  of  the 
church  which  is  presided  over  by  a  son  of  the  prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  and  is  gathered  principally  at  St.  Bernardino,  Cal., — 
the}'  do  not  practice  polygamy,  which,  I  may  here  state,  is  not 
taught  in  the  teachings  of  Joseph  Smith,  their  founder.  They 
considered  it  prudent  to  call  their  departure  "a  visit,"  until 
they  got  well  on  their  journey,  on  account  of  the  Danites  of 
masonry.  Also  a  wandering  Canadian;  a  mining  expert — on 
his  way  to  report  to  his  company  at  San  Francisco  as  to  the 
mines  recently  discovered  in  south-eastern  Nevada ;  and  Mr. 
Clark,  with  a  hand,  as  he  had  two  wagons  with  six-horse  teams. 
He  was  chief  of  the  party  :  a  Mormon  and  polygamist,  a  clever 
man  of  exceptional  large  and  wide  practical  intelligence  and 
experience  in  the  West  and  the  world.  Was  going  to  Los 
Angeles  for  some  stores   and  general  store-goods  for  himself 

(62) 


California.  03 


and  neighbors.  Had  made  the  round  trip  to  Los  Angeles  from 
Salt  Lake  or  other  settlements  over  this  route  twenty  times  on 
the  same  kind  of  business. 

The  Indians  living  on  the  road,  knowing  him  as  their  friend 
and  customer,  were  glad  to  see  him  and  called  him  "Dan." 
He  left  corn  with  them— giving  them  a  portion  — to  feed  on  his 
return ;  as  we  were  now  travelling  over  a  vast  mountainous, 
never  to  be  reclaimed  desert  waste,  destitute  of  soil,  grass  and 
even  sage-brush  in  large  portions  of  it  for  250  miles,  and  very 
destitute  of  water,  so  each  wagon  was  provided  with  a  barrel 
for  carrying  water,  and  the  animals  had  sometimes  to  do  with 
corn  or  barley,  without  water  or  grass. 

At  the  springs  and  camping  places  are  living  or  camping 
little  bands  of  the  most  destitute  and  degraded  Indians  I  had 
or  have  ever  seen.  They  live  mostly  on  a  species  of  cactus, 
roots,  snakes,  lizards,  etc.  The  shelled  corn  we  gave  them 
they  would  but  slightly  roast  in  the  aslies,  and  flour  they 
would  make  into  a  half  cooked  mush,  and  the  whole  group,  big 
and  little,  eat  it  hot  out  of  the  kettle  with  their  delicate  fingers, 
which  they  apparently  never  wash.  Are  composed  largely  of 
renegades  from  different  regular  tribes,  they  being  in  bad 
standing  and  more  or  less  out-lawed. 

Whenever  we  made  a  camp  where  there  was  some  grass 
anywhere  near,  "Dan"  would  have  the  Indians  turn  over  their 
bows  (backed  with  sinew)  and  arrows  (their  only  weapons)  to 
him,  and  then  turn  our  stock  over  to  them  to  take  out  to  grass, 
herd,  and  bring  them  in  in  the  morning,  saying,  that  if  they 
wanted  to  run  them  off,  they  would  do  so  anyway,  and  were  more 
apt  to  steal  them  if  he  acted  more  distrustful  towards  them  by 
the  little  guarding  that  we  could  do  in  a  part  of  us  going  with 
them ;  besides,  they  valued  him  as  an  old  friend  and  regular 
customer.  He  had  always  thus  trusted  even  these  renegades, 
and  they  had  never  betrayed  him.  And  it  was  their  country — 
all  they  had  in  the  world. 

After  leaving  St.  George  we  forded  the  Kio  Virgin  river 
twenty-eight  times — sometimes  following  in  the  quick-sand 
bed  of  it  for  a  road— before  we  left  it  to  climb  the  big  hill  to 
the  west.  This  done,  we  had  to  return  the  stock  way  down 
back  to  the  river  for  grass  and  water,  as  it  was  twenty-five  miles 


64:  Utah  to  Arizona. 


to  the  next  water  and  grass,  over  a  rocky  waste,  which  camp  was 
on  the  stream  Mudxhj,  that  was  settled  on  far  to  the  south-east 
by  the  Mormons.  Forty  or  fifty  hard  looking  and  nearly  naked 
Indians  gathered  about  us  here,  as  was  the  case  at  the  camping 
places  beyond. 

The  next  stretch  to  water  was  about  seventy  miles  to  Vagas 
creek.  Then  water  got  so  plenty  that  there  was  a  little  spring 
every  twenty  or  thirty  miles,  till  we  got  to  a  forty-five  mile 
stretch,  and  there  was  no  feed  for  three  or  four  miles  around 
the  end  of  it. 

The  next  dry  stretch  was  fifty  miles,  followed  by  one  of 
only  thirty-five,  which  brought  us  down  to  the  Mohave  creek, 
where  it  was  called  the  "fork  of  the  road."  (160  miles  from  Los 
Angeles).  One  fork  leading  south  into  Arizona  to  Camp 
Cada,  Prescot,  etc.  It  being  travelled  by  big  freight  teams, 
with  five  hundred  dollar  wagons,  having  high  wheels  and  tires 
four  or  five  inches  wide  for  the  burning  sands  of  this  Colorado 
desert,  and  often  loaded  with  even  hay  for  government  stock 
hundreds  of  miles  away  in  Arizona;  government  trains  and 
troops,  to  rob  the  Indians  out  of  such  a  country,  and  to  enrich 
the  gang ;  a  stage-coach  and  the  mail,  prospectors'  outfits,  etc. 

We  took  the  other  fork  leading  to  the  sea  shore. 

We  passed — about  a  hundred  miles  back  in  the  desert— an 
abandoned  barren  quartz  mine,  that  had  been  extensively 
prospected  with  shafts,  tunnerls,  etc. ;  and  this  without  an 
expensive  quartz  mill.  In  order  to  sell  mining  stock,  it  is 
usually  necessary  to  buy  and  be  at  work  on  a  big  mill — the 
bigger  the  better — as  an  assurance  that  the  thing  will  pay  to 
work. 

While  the  Sheriff  was  returning  to  San  Bernardino  from 
attaching  the  mine  (?)  for  labor  and  supplies  -  as  is  also  the 
usual  thing — he  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 

A  child  in  our  party  was  taken  sick  so  bad,  we  thought  it 
would  die  on  the  road ;  so  the  brethren  gathered  around  it 
and  performed  their  sacred  rite  of  "  Laying  on  of  hands  "  with 
prayer ;  and  as  in  a  day  or  two  the  little  saint  was  running 
about,  their  faith  was  kept  whole.  This  "miracle"  may  be  in 
their  Sunday-school  books  now,  and  highly  colored,  to 
strengthen  the  faith  of  future  generations. 


California.  65 

One  of  the  party  had  an  iron  ex-wagon,  and  of  course  on  a 
rough  road  an  axle  was  broken  off  at  the  shoulder.  But  these 
western  mountaineers  are  never  put  back  much  by  a  mishap  of 
that  kind.  In  this  case  an  unnecessary  bar  of  iron  was  soon 
taken  off  the  wagon,  run  through  the  wheel,  and  lashed  to  the 
axle.  These  people  will  set  wagon  tires  on  the  road,  shoe 
stock,  make  and  fit  most  any  part  of  a  wagon  without  tools, 
except  an  ax,  bit,  chisel  and  monkey-wrench. 

Some  Piute  Indian  words  :—  crovio — horse ;  murat — mule ; 
nepute  or  ninnie — little  ;  kawit— not  any  ;  tu-wich — very  much; 
tiri — tired ;  sco-ri — cold  ;  shangry — hungry ;  pe-up — big ;  wino 
— good  ;  spits — spring  ;  congaroo — run  or  go  fast ;  shot-cup — 
food ;  muggi — give  me  ;  pe-nacka — mineral ;  camusha — another; 
napeas — money ;  oma — you. 

The  bottom  of  the  Mohave  (moharvey),  along  which  we 
travelled  for  many  miles,  was  settled  in  a  rude  way  by  hard 
looking  citizens,  who  kept  some  little  accommodations,  canned 
fruits  and  other  goods  for  sale,  as  are  usually  found  at 
frequented  camping  places  on  the  much  travelled  roads  in  the 
West. 

The  atmosphere  was  now  more  humid,  mellow,  and  on  ac- 
count of  the  change,  which  in  itself  is  invigorating,  it  was  more 
bracing,  and  was  so  delightful  and  spring-like  from  here  on  to 
the  coast,  that  I  have  often  regretted  that  my  lot  was  not  cast 
in  such  a  lovely  clime  and  country. 

"Wild  budding  grape  vines,  green  grass, — in  places  all 
over  the  ground, — flowers,  trees,  and  even  flowing  water  and 
singing  birds  could  now  be  appreciated  by  us  and  enjoyed. 

No  wonder  Mohammed  had  the  Moslem  heaven  well  sup- 
plied with  beautiful  shaded  rivers,  green  grass  and  flowers. 

A  sand  storm  on  the  Mohave  clouded  the  picture  for  a 
day,  so  we  had  to  lay  over  on  account  of  it. 

A  few  days  travel  now  and  we  had  reached  and  passed 
over  the  Sierra  Nevada  mountain  range,  and  were  in  San 
Bernardino,  where  we  tarried  a  day  or  two. 

This  place  contained  (1867)  about  four  thousand  inhabit- 
ants, of  Mormons,  Gentiles  and  Mexicans,  the  latter  being 
Gentiles  also.  It  is  in  a  valley  made  fertile  and  enjo3'able  by 
a  semi-tropical  climate  and  a  good  supply  of  water.  Wood  and 
5 


66  Utah  to  Arizona. 


saw  timber  is  also  plentiful  on  the  mountain  near  by,  which  is 
a  rare  advantage  over  most  other  places  in  this  climate.  It  has 
the  "  wood  water  and  grass,"  that  the  miner  and  camping 
traveller  so  often  inquires  about,  also  the  soil  necessary  for 
independent  homes. 

This  site  was  included  in  a  Mexican  grant,  and  was  bought 
by  the  Mormons  in  early  days,  for  a  settlement  of  their  own. 
But  at  the  time  the  army  entered  Utah  to  fight  the  Mormons 
and  enforce  the  United  States  laws, — as  was  supposed  by  out- 
siders— and  the  Mountain-Meadow  massacre,  and  other  tributes 
were  levied  against  outsiders  by  the  secret  government,  of 
which  these  Mormons  were  subjects,  the  anger  of  the  Gentiles 
here-abouts,  together  with  a  call  or  order  from  the  Grand 
Worthy  head  of  their  government,  made  them  abandon  their 
homes  here  and  travel  in  haste  to  join  their  brother  subjects  in 
arms,  at  Salt  Lake  and  beyond. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  disparity  in  numbers,  arms  and 
equipments  at  that  time,  they  say  "  we  thought  that  we  might 
have  to  loUp  the  United  States  Army."  However,  the  Mormons 
luould  fight,  if  diplomacy,  secret  influence  and  intrigue  failed  in 
securing  their  enlargement ;  which  is  not  probable,  so  long  as 
they  can  meet  on  their  level  so  many  secret  brethren  in  the 
United  States  Government  and  courts,  who  are  secretly  sworn 
to  befriend  them. 

I  met  and  talked  with  parties  on  the  road,  here,  and  at  Los 
Angeles,  who  had  had  experience  in  Arizona.  Many  of  them 
would  praise  that  country  as  rich  in  minerals  (and  perhaps  it 
is  in  a  few  little  spots)  and  in  fertile  valleys,  saying,  they  would 
soon  return  to  their  valuable  prospects  or  interests  there,  etc. 
But  on  close  acquaintance  they  would  curse  and  swear  and 
paw  the  ground,  declaring  that  any  one  who  could  be  deluded 
to  think  of  living,  or  making  anything  legitimately  in  such  a  God- 
forsaken, howling,  burning  wilderness — "where  it  rains  only 
sand,  and  the  only  vegetation  is  thorns  and  thistles,  which 
differ  only  in  variety" — should  be  assisted  in  their  going,  and 
learn  their  folly  as  they  had  done.  And  the  phrase  "Arizona 
liar"  was  a  common  one.  Instead  of  giving  the  lie  direct,  one 
need  only  ask  the  gentleman  "if  he  had  been  to  Arizona." 

I  now  comprehended  the  enticing  tales  like  that  of  the 


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(67) 


68  California. 


"bullets  of  gold  shot  by  the  Apaches," — the  "rich  mines 
worked  and  left  by  the  Aztecs,"  or  later  by  others  "  driven  out 
by  Indians,"  etc.,  etc.  Afterwards  I  knew  different  parties, 
well  equipped  with  animals,  arms,  provisions,  money,  etc.,  to 
spend  many  months  in  prospecting  there,  but  they  always  left 
it,  dead-broke,  disgusted  and  often  on  foot. 

It  seemed  there  was  no  way  to  learn  the  truth  of  that 
section,  except  by  experience  or  instinct  alone.  How  would  I 
know  that  the  army  officers,  other  officials,  editors,  judges,  and 
other  prominent  and  respected  men  in  the  West,  were  "Arizona 
liars."  Our  parents  and  books  did  not  teach  it ;  our  lecturers 
and  preachers  did  not  preach  it,  and  the  papers  would 
deny  it.  It  seems  there  should  be  somebody,  to  write  plain, 
practical  and  truthful  accounts  of  places,  men  and  things,  even 
if  they  are  ridiculed  and  stabbed  and  nobody  care. 
"  Truth  ever  lovely  since  the  world  began, 
The  foe  of  tyrants  and  the  friend  of  man." 

I  noticed  much  good  country  between  San  Bernardino  and 
Los  Angeles — sixty  miles — but  little  of  it  was  then  in  cultiva- 
tion. Much  of  this  land  could  then  be  bought  for  ten,  fifteen  or 
twenty  dollars  per  acre,  now  it  is  from  one  to  two  hundred  dollars 
an  acre.  The  soil  is  mostly  a  bed  of  sand,  but  with  water  it  can 
be  made  to  blossom  as  a  Moslem  paradise.  There  are  some 
spots,  however,  where  corn  and  other  grain  and  fruits  are  grown 
in  great  abundance  without  irrigation.  A  few  miles  East  of 
Los  Angeles  I  remember  riding  over  a  level  sage-brush  and 
cactus  stretch  of  several  miles  in  extent,  and  also  over  the  roll- 
ing hills  between  town  and  the  sea,  which  were  thickly  covered 
with  a  kind  of  wild  rank  clover  '  up  to  my  knees,'  which,  how- 
ever, would  be  dried  up  in  April  or  May. 

The  streets  of  Los  Angeles  (Lost  Angels)  follow  the  wind- 
ings of  old  stock  trails,  but  there  were  some  fine  brick  buildings 
and  residences  with  tropical  trees  and  gardens,  that  are  lovely, 
indeed. 

Los  Angeles  was  an  old  Mexican  town  of  six  or  seven 
thousand  inhabitants.  I  think  a  majority  in  the  county  was 
then  (1867)  Mexicans,  Indians,  Chinamen,  etc.,  and  that  the 
sheriff  was  a  Mexican.  The  moneyed  men  were  Jews  and 
secret-ring  army  contractors,  who  were  making   big   fortunes 


70  C.AilFORNTA. 

out  of  the  people  in  their  contracts  for  cavahy  horses  and  all 
kinds  of  supplies,  and  the  freighting  of  it  into  Arizona  and  else- 
where (the  government  spent  about  4,000,000  dollars  in  this 
way,  at  this  point,  each  year) ;  and  they  acquired  large  bodies 
of  land  and  other  valuable  properties  accordingly. 

Common  labor  was  twenty-five  dollars  a  month.  At  some 
out-of-the-way  places  and  at  the  saw-mills  near  San  Bernardino 
labor  was  from  forty  to  fifty  dollars  a  month,  and  the  favored 
contractors  would  sometimes  allow  outside  freighters  to  make 
a  few  dollars  by  sub-contract  and  doing  the  work. 

The  Mexican  population  were  mostly  engaged  in  cattle, 
horses  and  sheep. 

Mustangs — the  common  horses  of  the  country — were  sold 
by  the  band  for  about  seven  dollars  a  head.  Large  droves  were 
being  driven  to  the  territories  and  the  states ;  were  worked  in- 
to the  government  service  at  round  prices,  and  stage  companies 
all  over  the  coast  were  using  them  largely. 

In  exceptional  dry  seasons  the  poorest  of  the  horses  have 
been  driven  over  bluffs  into  the  sea  by  the  thousand,  to  save 
the  feed  for  other  stock.  At  such  times,  where  the  ranges  are 
over-stocked,  cattle,  horses  and  sheep  die  by  the  many  thou- 
sand in  summer ;  the  same  as  they  more  frequently  do  in 
winter  on  the  ranges  of  the  north-west. 

''  Los  Angeles,  January  11th,  1884. 
Southern  California,  owing  to  its  climatic  position,  being 
midway  between  the  temperate  and  tropical,  is  known  as  Semi- 
Tropic  CaHf  ornia.  It  has  about  280  miles  of  sea  coast,  with  an 
average  of  40  miles  in  width.  This  city  is  the  commercial  center 
of  Southern  California There  are  three  things  that  soon  at- 
tract the  attention  of  new  comers.  They  are,  the  nuld,  salubrious 
climate,  the  wonderful  productions  of  the  soil  and  the  beauty  of 
the  scenery.  In  speaking  of  the  first,  we  notice  from  the  signal 
service  record  that  the  average  temperature  of  winter  for  six 
years  was  52  degrees;  for  summer  67  degrees.  The  average 
difference  between  winter  and  summer  is  but  15  degrees.  The 
temperature  seldom  gets  to  the  freezing  point  in  winter,  or  to  100 
in  summer.  The  cool  sea  breeze  in  summer  gives  an  eveness  to 
the  temperature.  There  is  really  neither  winter  nor  summer  here 
but  year  in  and  year  out  is  one  continual  season,  similar  to  the 


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1^ 


72  Califoknia. 

Indian  snmmer  of  the  Eastern  States.  Flowers  bloom  in  pro- 
fnsion  all  the  year;  and,  as  an  evidence  that  but  little  cold 
weather  is  experienced,  we  see  sub-tropical  plants  growing  out 
doors  in  the  yards  and  hedges ;  geraniums  and  French  roses  bud 
and  bloom  all  through  the  year.  Tomatoes  bear  all  the  year  and 
for  two  or  three  years  on  the  same  vines.  Castor  beans  continue 
to  grow  and  bloom  from  year  to  year,  until  the  stocks  get  to  be 
as  much  as  six  inches  in  diameter.  Sorghum  continues  to  grow 
from  the  same  stock  for  years.  Ripe  strawberrys  are  gathered 
every  month  in  the  year.  All  kinds  of  garden  vegetables  grow  all 
the  year.  *' Spring  chickens"  are  a  misnomer  here,  for  they  are 
raised  all  the  year  round. 

The  lawns,  fields  and  bluffs  are  greenest  in  the  winter  months, 
and  more  hay  is  fed  in  the  summer,  when  the  earth  is  diy  and 

parched,  than  in  the  winter The  larger  tracts  of  land  are 

being  subdivided  into  five,  ten  and  twenty  acre  lots,  and  sold  to 
settlers  for  fruit  raising  piu'poses.  In  this  way  the  coimtry  is 
settling  up  very  thickly.  The  lands  within  five  miles  of  the  city 
sell,  unimproved,  for  1 00  to  300  dollars  per  acre ;  when  improved 
and  set  in  trees  or  vines,  and  having  had  five  or  six  years'  cultiva- 
tion, with  good  dwelling  and  nice  surroundings,  they  will  sell  at 

from  800  to  1000  dollars  per  acre Evergreen  trees  grow  here 

all  the  year.  The  range  of  rugged  mountains  to  the  north  or 
northeast,  with  their  peaks  covered  with  snow,  and  the  blue  ocean 
and  magnificent  sunsets  to  the  south  and  southwest,  is  a  fitting 
margin  to  the  intervening  picture.  Upon  a  high  eminence  in  the 
city  we  get  a  view  of  the  suiTounding  country.  A  circle  of  three 
miles  in  each  direction  from  the  court  house  will  almost  take  in 
the  city  limits, — not  all  built  up  yet,  but  within  that  radius  are 
25,000  inhabitants.  The  sight  is  a  lovely  one.  Many  fine,  palatial 
residences,  with  surroundings  lovely  as  an  idea,  and  thousands  of 
acres  stretching  far  away,  thickly  studded  with  orange,  lemon, 
lime,  olive,  palm,  cedar  and  cypress  trees,  with  numerous  semi- 
tropical  plants,  flowers  and  vines,   make  the  scene  one  of  rare 

beauty Large  orchards  of  the  English  walnut,  almond  and 

other  nut-bearing  trees  are  quite  common.  A  part  of  the  city  is 
built  upon  the  bluffs,  from  whence  a  grand  view  of  the  surround- 
ing country  can  be  had.  The  transfers  of  real  estate  within  the 
city  and  county  for  the  last  two  years  foot  up  about  20,000,000 
dollars. 

J.  S.  F." 


74  CA.LIFORNIA. 


There  are  now  many  smaller  towns,  but  similar  to  Los 
Angeles,  throughout  this  section.  Wells  are  bored  and  dug, 
and  wind  mills  largely  used  in  irrigating  the  land.  And  all  the 
running  water  is  appropriated  for  the  same  purpose. 

Notwithstanding  the  apparent  and  real  natural  advantages 
of  this  section  of  countrj^  the  people,  as  a  rule,  were  not  pros- 
perous and  contented.  Secret  gangs  of  lawyers  in  conjunction 
with  brethren  in  office  in  the  State  and  at  Washington,  had  con- 
spired to  cloud,  mix,  disturb  and  shatter  the  regular  and  legal 
titles  to  the  greater  part  of  the  lands  in  the  State;  and  to  then, 
with  the  courts  (composed  of  themselves),  wring  tribute  on  tri- 
bute from  every  man,  woman  and  child  who  would  own  and  till 
the  soil. 

"  Yes,"  some  said  to  me,  "  one  can  buy  land  here,  but  he 
never  knows  when  he  is  done  buying  it,  or  when  the  title  is 
settled  for  certain ;  that  is  all  with  the  lawyers  and  courts,  and 
is  never  really  settled."  "  Doubt,  insecurity,  retarded  progress, 
litigation  without  end,  hatred,  destruction  of  property,  expendi- 
ture of  money,  blood-shed,  all  these  have  resulted." 

If  ever  is  truly  written  a  complete  history  of  but  the  land 
troubles  in  California  alone,  it  will  be  wondered  that 
lawyers  are  not  outlawed  and  destroyed — not  as  men  but  as 
snakes,  wolves  and  pests  to  society. 

"  The  man  of  law 

Cunningly  could  he  quibble  out  a  flaw, 
And  scratch  men's  scabs  to  ulcers." 


ics  rnoM  los  *"GCLES,fOuNi)rri  IT'S 


MAm  stager,  lis  tnm.».  CQUnoEo  igaa. 


^^jS^l^^^^j^ 


MISSION  SAN  JUAN  C/(PlSIRAUS.J0MllESSOUIK.FW»l)E0l7T6.    SAN  LOUIS  REYMISSIONHO    MILES    SOUTH,   fOUNOtO  liSS- 

Tropical  Plants  and  Histoeioal  Buildings. 


(75) 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITlf 


CHAPTER  V. 

Leave  Los  Angeles  for  a  new  mining  camp  in  Nevada. — The  stock  of  a 
train  cajitured  by  Indians. — "Death  Valley." — Eighty-seven  families, 
stock,  etc.,  i^erish. — The  siu'rounding  region  and  its  products. — How 
teamsters  are  revenged. — Comjjrehensive  descri lotion  of  the  mining 
camp. — "  Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  we  liave  struck  it,  hurrah  !  !  " — A  big 
Indian. — How  Mining  Co.  oflBcials  steal. — Indian  and  white  men 
hung. — The  mode  of  government  and  trial. — ^Wages,  living,  business, 
etc. — The  geological  formation  of  mineral  lodes,  veins,  fissures,  etc., 
and  i^lacer  mines. — Prosj^ecting  for  and  locating  claims. — The  right 
time  to  sell,  etc. — Why  mines  are  guarded  with  rifles. — How  stock 
companies  operate. — Why  newspaper  accounts  of  mines  are  not  re- 
liable.— The  real  prices  paid  for  mines. — How  stock,  etc.,  is  made  to 
sell. — One  and  a  half  year's  experience. 

A.T  Los  Angeles  I  formed  the  acquaintance  of  an  agent  of  a 
mining  company ;  lie  was  forwarding  by  freight  wagons  a 
quartz-mill  and  supplies  to  their  "rich  and  extensive  mines" 
at  Pah  Ranagat  in  south-eastern  Nevada.  This  was  a  new  and 
glowing  mining  district  then— at  a  distance,  and  he  easily  in- 
duced me  to  go  to  the  mines  with  the  train  having  the 
machinery.  I  was  to  run  the  engine  of  the  mill  at  eight  dollars 
a  day. 

Mr.  Agent  remained  behind  a  few  days  to  start  and  ac- 
company an  outfit  of  four  wagons,  four  men,  and  thirty-five  or 
forty  mules  and  horses,  with  mining  supplies.  When  on  their 
journey,  having  camped  for  the  night  at  an  alkali  spring  on  the 
desert,  about  250  miles  out  from  Los  Angeles,  two  of  the  men 
being  out  with  the  stock,  some  Indians  swooped  in  on  them 
and  run  them  off,  to  eat  them ;  except  two  that  struck  for 
camp  (as  is  quite  usual),  and  one  that  was  tied  to  a  wagon. 

Then  three  of  the  party  stayed  with  the  wagons,  while  the 
other  two  returned  and  procured  other  animals. 

"  Yet  happier  those  we  name  (nor  name  we  wrong), 
Who  the  rough  seas  of  stormy  life  along 
Have  sailed  contented ;  by  experience  taught 
Those  ills  to  suffer,  which  their  errors  (or  their  fate) 

had  brought. 
With  placid  hopes  each  torturing  pang  beguile, 
And  welcome  every  sorrow  with  a  smile.'' 

(76J 


Mining  Camps.  77 


We  travelled  a  different  road  part  of  the  way  to  San  Ber- 
nardino, then  took  the  same  I  have  described,  for  about  250 
miles,  when  we  turned  north  for  about  200  miles  (wagon  wheel 
measurement),  to  the  mining  camp  of  "great  possibilities." 

After  leaving  the  Mormon  road,  we  found  water  at  from 
twenty-five  to  forty-five  miles  travel — one  of  the  stretches  being 
thirty-five  miles.  Passed  along  the  border  of  Death  Valley, 
said  to  be  below  the  sea  level. 

"The  Valley  op  Death. — A  spot  almost  as  terrible  as  the 
prophet's  *  valley  of  dry  bones/  lies  just  north  of  the  old  Mormon 
road  to  California  -  a  region  thirty  miles  long  by  thirty  broad, 
and  surrounded,  except  at  two  points,  by  inaccessible  mountains. 
It  is  totally  devoid  of  water  and  vegetation,  and  the  shadow  of  a 
bird  or  wild  beast  never  darkens  its  white,  glaring  sands.  The 
Kansas  Pacific  raih-oad  engineers  discovered  [?]  it,  and  some 
papers,  which  show  the  fate  of  the  "lost  Montgomery  train,'' 
which  came  south  from  Salt  Lake  in  1850,  guided  by  a  Mormon. 
"When  near  Death  Valley,  some  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
Mormon  knew  nothing  of  the  country,  so  they  appointed  one  of 
their  number  a  leader,  and  broke  off  from  their  party.  The  leader 
turned  due  west,  and  so,  with  the  people  and  wagons  and  the 
flocks,  he  travelled  three  days  and  then  descended  into  the  broad 
valley,  whose  treacherous  mirage  promised  water.  They  reached 
the  center,  but  only  the  white  sands,  bounded  by  scorching  peaks, 
met  theu'  gaze.  And  around  the  valley  they  wandered,  and  one 
by  one  the  men  died.  And  the  panting  flocks  stretched  them- 
selves in  death  under  the  hot  sun.  The  children,  crying  for 
water,  died  at  their  mothers'  breasts,  and,  with  swollen  tongues 
and  burning  vitals,  the  mothers  followed.  Wagon  after  wagon 
was  abandoned,  and  strong  men  tottered  and  raved  and  died. 
After  a  week's  wandering,  a  dozen  survivors  found  some  water  in 
the  hollow  of  a  mountain.  It  lasted  but  a  short  time,  when  all 
perished  but  two,  who  escaped  out  of  the  valley  and  followed  the 
trail  of  their  former  companions.  Eighty-seven  families,  with 
hundreds  of  animals,  perished  here ;  and  now,  after  twenty-two 
years,  the  wagons  stand  still,  complete,  the  iron-works  and  tires 
are  bright,  and  the  shrivelled  skeletons  lie  side  by  side." 

This  region  produces  many  varieties  of  cactus ;  some  being 
a  foot  in  diameter  and  about  twenty  feet  high,  and  in  spots 
like  a  thick  forest.     The  dead  trunks  made  good  camp  fires. 


78  California  to  Nevada. 


There  is  alkali  and  soda  in  extensive  banks  and  quite  pure, 
so  that,  when  it  rains,  the  water  running  from  it  looks  like 
milk.  There  is  also  petrified  wood,  chalk  hills,  vulcano  craters 
and  lava  flows,  and  dry  lakes,  five  to  ten  miles  in  extent,  smooth 
and  hard  as  a  floor. 

Lizards,  centipedes  and  Indians  bask  in  the  sunshine,  each 
apparently  contented  with  his  lot,  and  sometimes  there  are  vast 
swarms  of  grasshoppers,  but  they  fly  away. 

It  was  said,  that  the  freighter  who  brought  the  mill,  had 
the  faculty  of  tricking  his  men  out  of  their  wages,  so  that  on 
reaching  Salt  Lake  they  stole  the  burrs  from  his  wagons  in 
revenge, 

I  found  a  mining  district,  and  a  county  (Lincoln)  had  been 
organized,  embracing  the  mountain  spur,  containng  the  mineral 
bearing  quartz  rock, — the  highest  peak  (which  was  composed 
of  barren  quartz)  being  some  9000  feet  above  the  sea—  a  small 
watered  valley,  fit  for  farming  and  stock  raising,  ten  or  twelve 
miles  away,  having  large  flowing  hot  sulphur  springs,  and 
enough  of  the  adjacent  country  for  an  extensive  grasshopper 
and  lizard  range,  and  to  show  big  on  a  map. 

There  were  five  little  camps ;  three  being  in  the  mountain, 
and  two  in  the  valley, — one  of  which  was  the  county  seat 
and  the  other  had  wanted  to  be.  They  each  having  water — 
both  hot  and  cold.  One  of  the  three  camps  in  the  mountain 
was  supplied  with  water  from  a  spring,  three  or  four  miles 
away,  at  ten  cents  a  gallon ;  each  of  the  other  two  had  small 
springs. 

There  was  some  timber  (pine)  on  the  mountain,  and  lum- 
ber was  whip-sawed  for  $150  a  thousand  feet,  also  a  good  deal 
of  scrub-mit-pine  for  fuel  and  producing  food  for  the  Indians. 

The  district  contained  a  migratory,  ever  changing  popu- 
lation of  about  250  men,  from  every  quarter  and  station;  less 
than  a  dozen  women  and  children,  and  the  usual  complement 
of  Indians. 

These  Indians  are  simple  as  children,  and  degraded  in 
their  habits,  but  as  proud,  patriotic  and  jealous  of  their  posses- 
sions and  fame,  as  a  subject  of  the  white  Mormon  secret  state. 
Their  chief  had  recently  met  the  Governor  of  the  State 
(Nevada),  and  to  impress  him  with  their  equal  importance, 


1-1 


P 
I 


1 79 


80  California  to  Nevada. 


addressed  him  tlms:— "You  big  cliief:  il/e  big  chief  too; 
You  own  Virginia  City,  Austin,  Carson,  etc.,  etc. :  il/e  own  all 
of  this,  that,  and  the  other  mountain,  and  all  of  these  valleys, 
waters,  etc.,  etc.  ;  You  heap  big  son  of  a  b — h  :  il/e  all  the  same." 

There  were  now  three  quartz  mills  in  the  district,  with 
more  to  follow,  and  most  everybody  had  "feet"  in  mining 
claims.  One  had  sold  for  $50,000,  and  they  were  singing, 
"  hurrah  !  hurrah ! !  we  have  struck  it,  hurrah  ! ! !  the  Gentiles 
have  struck  it  in  southern  Utah."  It  was  at  first  thought  to 
be  in  Utah. 

Miners'  wages  were  sis  dollars  a  day,  mechanics'  eight 
dollars,  and  boss  mill  builders'  twenty  dollars.  But  there  was 
not  much  employment  to  be  had ;  there  being  always  an  ov^" 
supply  of  men,  and  the  pay  was  mighty  uncertain. 

Merchants  charged,  on  an  average,  about  300  per  cent, 
profit  on  their  goods,  expecting  this  to  be  somewhat  reduced 
by  bad  debts,  as  credit  is  seldom  refused. 

There  was  no  smaller  change  than  twenty-five  cents,  which 
was  the  price  of  drinks,  etc.  Board,  fourteen  dollars  a  week, 
though  "baching"  was  the  rule  at  an  expense  of  about  one  dollar 
a  day.  Flour,  thirteen  dollars  a  hundred  pounds.  Sugar, 
butter,  coffee,  at  seventy-five  cents  a  pound.  Boots,  thirteen 
dollars  a  pair.  Grain  and  potatoes,  ten  cents  a  pound.  Hay, 
fifty  dollars  a  ton.  Wagon  spokes  and  ax  handles,  one  dollar 
to  one  dollar  and  a  half  each.  Hard  lumber,  one  dollar  and  a 
half  per  square  foot.  There  were  similar  mining  camps,  150 
miles  and  more  away ;  and  Mormon  settlements  as  near  as  175 
miles,  which  sent  in  their  produce.  The  Mormons  like  to  have 
mining  camps  spring  up  around  them,  for  the  market  they 
afford  them.  They  thus  got  six  dollars  a  bushel  for  all  their 
surplus  wheat  for  several  years,  other  produce  in  pro- 
portion. The  mines,  and  the  California  and  Oregon  bound 
emigration  trains,  and  United  States  troops  constituted  their 
markets. 

The  Mormons  never  mine  themselves,  except  for  wages. 
The  counsel  of  the  order  being  against  investing  any  money  in 
mines  •,  knowing,  that  as  a  business  it  does  not  begin  to  pay, 
except  with  other  people's  money. 

There  being  no  home  influences   or  comforts  In  mining 


Mining  Camts.  81 


camj^s,  the  saloons  are  the  universal  place  of  resort,  for  com- 
pany, business  and  pleasure.  Stores  and  saloons  are  frequently- 
connected.  And  all  men  are  expected,  as  good  citizens,  to  con- 
tribute towards  making  things  lively  and  times  good  for  those 
who  do  not  work,  by  spending  their  money  for  whiskey,  in 
gambling,  and  at  the  stores.  Those  who  would  do  so  freely, 
and  in  advance,  stood  the  first  show  for  employment, — as  good 
as  those  who  were  secret  ring  brethren.  An  employer  could 
thus  throw  money  into  the  pockets  of  brethren  behind  the 
counters  and  tables.  Men  seeking  employment,  on  going  to 
such  places,  should  be  broke  and  forthwith  run  saloon  and 
board  bills,  and  let  them  hustle  up  jobs  for  them. 

Mining  superintendents  get  a  salary  of  about  $5000  a  year, 
and  what  they  can  safely  steal ;  which  is  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  business  done  and  money  handled.  They  are  usually 
ring  brethren  of  the  chief  men  of  the  company,  with  no  business 
ability  or  character  necessary  for  legitimate  success  ;  but  they 
must  be  cunning  in  their  stealing  and  trustworthy  in  dividing. 
Expenses  incurred  are  largely  increased  in  the  books,  this  is 
one  of  their  ways.  I  knew  the  bookkeeper  of  a  management 
that  had  him  add  one  hundred  per  cent,  to  all  expenses,  or  so 
it  would  average  that.  $100,000  expended  in  a  quartz  mill,  can 
be  made  to  blossom  into  $376,911.09  in  the  books  to  the  out- 
side stock  holders  ;  other  expenses  likewise. 

There  were  state  and  county  ring  machines  of  government 
here,  but  they  were  discarded  by  the  people  for  the  government 
of  the  plains — carried  in  every  man's  pocket,  or  swung  to  his 
belt.  For  examj)le : — an  Indian  having  killed  a  white  man, 
was,  with  others,  captured,  tried  without  lawbooks  or  lawyers, 
and  hung ;  the  others  being  acquitted. 

A  white  man,  of  considerable  eminence  in  the  states, 
murdered  another  for  his  money ;  he  was  likewise  given  a  fair, 
open  trial  and  hung. 

An  employer  undertakes  to  trick  his  men  out  of  their 
money;  knowing  that  he  has  it,  one  of  them  presents  a  pistol  at 
his  head,  with  the  proposition  to  pay  or  die — he  pays. 

A  boisterous  desperado  undertakes  to  "  run  the  town," 
runs  against  some  quiet  little  man,  who  kills  him  in  his  disgust 
at  the  cowardice  of  the  famed  bullies  and  toughs  of  the  camp. 
6 


82  CALiForiNiA  TO  Nevada. 


The  people  were  not  afraid  of,  or  prejudiced  against  the 
professional  gambler  and  sharp,  but  thej  had  no  use  for 
the  mysterious  midnight  trickster  and  confidence  man. 

I  have  noticed  that  the  more  frank,  generous  and  honorable 
of  men,  who  have  had  experience  with  the  different  govern- 
ments, prefer  this  government  "  by  the  people,  for  the  people," 
to  that  of  gangs  of  lawyers  ;  because  secret  gangs  do  not  protect 
what  honest  industry  procures. 

While  the  selfish,  grasping,  criminal  natures,  who  would 
get  on  by  secret  intrigue  and  the  misery  they  make,  are  wed- 
ded to  the  lawyer  gang  system. 

'^  They  are  never  happy,  except  when  they  destroy 
The  comfort  and  blessing  which  others  enjoy." 

As  to  the  geological  formation  of  mineral  lodes,  veins  or 
deposits,  let  the  curious,  as  to  this,  imagine  a  mountain  in  a 
molten  state ;  then  towards  and  at  the  surface  it  has  become 
cool  and  hardened,  with  a  seething,  blubbering  mass  of  molten 
quartz,  mingled  with  mineral,  shaken,  settled  or  run  together, 
still  in  a  state  of  volcanic  action  underneath  in  the  bowels  of 
the  mountain  ;  the  volcanic  action,  being  now  more  confined, 
becomes  more  violent,  and  the  mountain  above  cracks  open,  in 
one  or  more  fissures  or  cracks  ;  the  seething,  blubbering  mass 
of  quartz-rock  and  mineral  boils  and  spurts  up  into  the  fissures 
or  cracks,  till  their  sides  ("  wall  rock  ")  are  smooth  as  glass ;  it 
finally  cools  and  hardens  there  into  solid  mineral-bearing 
quartz-rock.  If  it  is  pressed,  spurted,  or  flows  out  at  the  sur- 
face of  the  cracks,  then  out-croppings  are  formed,  and  bowlders 
and  bodies  of  this  mineral-mixed  lava  are  mingled  with  the 
surrounding  surface  of  the  mountain  ;  perhaps,  in  time,  this  is 
partly  or  completely  covered  with  other  rock,  soil  and  vegeta- 
tion. Usually  it  appears  that  nearly,  or  all  of  the  mineral-bear- 
ing rock  had  thus  flowed  out  and  scattered  about,  and  the 
fissures  or  cracks  had  then  settled  back  or  closed  from  beneath, 
or  else  filled  up  with  ordinary  rock  or  lava,  which  may  crop 
out  and  be  scattered  about  also.  Or  the  fissures,  cracks,  may 
be  filled  with  quartz,  barren  of  mineral ;  nearly  so,  or  except  in 
spots  (called  "  bonanzas  "  or  "  pockets  "),  or  except  in  perpen- 
dicular streaks  (called  "chimneys").  There  are  plenty  of  ledges, 
fissures,  etc.,  in  quartz  and  mining  districts  that  are  not  loded 


Mining  Camps. 


■witli  metal.     But  gold  and  silver  is  usually  formed  or  mixed 
with  the  character  of  rock,  called  quartz. 

These  cracks,  fissures  or  lodes  may  be  very  deep,  farther 
down  than  has  ever  been  reached  by  man,  (about  4000  feet). 
"When  deep,  they  are  called  true  fissure  veins,  and  trend  in 
direction  with  the  range  of  mountain  -  usually  northerly  and 
southerly.  But  they  usually  contract  with  depth,  "  pinch  "  or 
"peter  out"  at  a  short  distance  below  the  surface  ;  this  is  most 
always  the  case,  if  rich  in  the  precious  metals,  otherwise  they 
would  not  be  precious.  If  there  is  no  out-cropping  to  a  ledge 
or  lode,  and  it  is.  covered  with  the  country  or  common  rock,  or 
with  ground,  it  is  called  a  "  blind  ledge  "  or  lode.  Imagine 
again,  that  the  mountain,  on  cooling,  had  many  surface  cracks 
or  seams  (which,  when  leading  to  or  springing  from  a  main  or 
larger  one,  are  called  "  spurs  ")  and  also  cavities,  caves  and 
pockets,  and  that  a  portion  of  these  are  filled  with  the  flowing 
and  rolling  quartz,  more  or  less  mixed  with  mineral. 

In  lead  districts,  molten  lead  and  rock  seems  to  have  flow- 
ed for  many  miles,  filling  up  the  holes  and  low  places  in  the 
way.  Afterwards,  other  flows  of  lava  have  more  or  less  covered 
these  deposits  and  formed  stratas  of  rock  over  them.  After- 
wards, earth-quakes  and  the  wear  of  water  may  have  changed 
the  lay  of  the  land. 

In  a  mineral  district,  the  ledges  or  veins  of  quartz-rock — 
either  barren  or  containing  valuable  mineral,  such  as  gold, 
silver,  copper,  lead,  etc., — also  all  of  the  bowlders,  scattered 
bodies,  filled  cracks,  holes,  deposits,  etc.,  showing  signs  of 
mineral,  are,  when  discovered,  each  located  as  a  mining  claim 
and  recorded.  A  mining  claim  may  (in  late  years)  embrace  as 
much  as  twenty  acres  of  gi'ound. 

The  richest  rock  is,  as  a  rule,  found  at  or  near  the  surface 
of  the  ledge  ;  though  richer  pockets  may  be  found  deeper  down. 
The  rich  rock  of  the  "  bonanzas  "  struck  deep  in  the  great  com- 
stock,  was  very  low  grade,  compared  with  that  found  at  the 
surface  of  the  ledge. 

When  one  has  a  quartz  claim  and  can  find  a  man  with 
money,  who  thinks  the  rock  will  improve,  or  that  the  ledge  will 
widen  out  as  depth  is  attained,  sell  it  to  Mm,  quick. 

However,  if  the  rock  will  pay  to  work,  he  and  his  partner 


84  Califoknia  to  Nevada. 


can  blast  it  out  and  sell  it  ou  the  dump ;  have  it  worked  by 
some  one  of  the  mills  that  are  already,  or  will  be,  built,  if  there 
is  a  prospect  of  much  pay  rock  anywhere  around.  Or,  if  it  is 
rock  that  is  not  diflScult  to  work,  they  can  put  up  an  erasta, 
hitch  their  horses  to  it,  and  work  a  ton  or  two  of  rock  a  day 
themselves.  But  a  claim  that  has  really  good  prospects  in 
sight,  can  be  sold,  for  more  than  it  is  worth  to  work,  to  some 
gang  of  mining  sharps  who  will  work  it  off  for  a  yet  larger 
sum,  with  a  "  half  interest "  or  stock  game,  to  "  raise  money  to 
develop  or  work  it,"  etc.  A  good  mine,  or  a  good  prospect 
even,  does  not  need  to  be  advertised  or  puffed  in  newspapers  to 
find  a  customer.  It  would  he  foolish  to  ^nit  up  ten  dollars  on  any- 
thing that  might  he  loritten  in  a  oieiospaj^er  ahout  a  mine.  If  it  is  a 
big  bargain,  do  not  think  that  the  owner  will  hunt  up  strangers 
to  favor  with  it,  or  permit  them  to  enjoy  it  at  all. 

If  a  mine  is  really  rich  and  is  to  be  honestly  worked,  it  is 
to  the  interest  of  the  owners,  in  various  ways,  to  keep  its  value 
hid  as  much  as  possible,  and  they  never  fail  to  do  so. 

Persons  that  have  never  owned  enticing  property,  have  no 
idea  of  the  midnight  conspiracies,  that  set  to  work  to  rob 
the  owner  of  such  properties.  The  gang  conspires  to  have  the 
courts  in  the  hands  of  secret  brethren,  with  whom  they  can 
secretly  and  safely  deal,  and  then,  by  hook  or  crook,  some 
little  technical  error  (?),  done  for  the  purpose  to  get  the  pro- 
perty in  the  hands  of  the  courts.  Or  the  gang  may  "jump "  it, 
when,  if  they  are  not  killed,  the  court  comes  to  their  assistance, 
by  taking  and  keeping  the  case  in  court  until  the  mine  is  work- 
ed out— twenty  or  thirty  years,  if  necessary.  For  example,  a 
clerical  error  (?)  of,  I  believe,  but  a  single  luord,  done  in  the 
patent  to  McGarahan,  was  excuse  enough  for  the  courts  to  take 
his  mine,  give  it  to  some  brethren,  and  keep  it  in  court  as  long 
as  the  owner  lived — about  thirty-five  years.  Besides,  taking  all 
the  means  he  could  raise  meanwhile.  So  that  it  is  necessary 
to  defend  such  property  with  rifles  and  shotguns,  which  is 
often  expensive.  And  there  are  other  reasons,  as  can  be 
imagined,  why  rich  strikes  are  concealed  and  not  advertised. 

In  prospecting  a  new  locality  for  quartz  mines,  one  rides 
through  the  gulches  and  ravines,  looks  for  pieces  of  quartz  or 
"float'' rock,  which  may  have  been  washed  by  the  elements 


Mining  Cajvips.  85 


from  ledges  or  other  bodies  of  it  above.  If  any  promising 
pieces  of  rock  are  found,  the  hills  and  mountains  above  where 
it  was  found  are  carefully  looked  over,  to  find  where  or  what 
the  "  float "  was  detached  from.  The  distance  it  has  travelled  is 
judged  by  the  amount  it  is  worn. 

Frequently  the  out-croppings,  bowlders  and  other  surface 
quartz,  as  heretofore  described,  have  decomposed  and  been 
washed,  with  their  gold,  down  into  the  gulches  and  streams,  with 
gravel,  and  other  dirt  washed  over  ii-thus forming  the  Placer  mines. 

There  were,  perhaps,  one  thousand  mining  claims  located 
and  recorded  in  the  Pah-Ranagat  district.  Iliad  first  seen  speci- 
mens from  some  of  them  at  Salt  Lake  ;  they  were  highly 
colored,  and  enticing  to  look  at.  This  is  one  way  of  advertising 
a  mining  camp  and  particular  mines  :  I  mean,  to  exhibit  rich 
pieces  of  ore. 

But  the  ore  in  this  district  was  base  ;  that  is,  it  contained 
besides  silver,  sulphur,  antimony,  copper,  iron,  lead,  etc.;  it 
being  therefore  refractory  and  costly  to  mill,  separate  and 
work.  It  was  also  very  hard  to  drill  and  blast.  Then  it  was 
a  low  grade  ore,  say  ten  dollars  to  thirty  dollars  in  silver  to  the 
ton  of  rock.  Pieces  could  be  selected  that  would  assay  very 
high,  while  much  of  it  was  quite  barren. 

There  is  generally  one  principal  or  main  ledge  in  a  mining 
district,  and  one  only ;  the  rest  being  smaller  cracks,  spurs, 
bowlders  and  other  little  bunches  of  quartz.  The  principal 
ledge  in  this  district  cropped  out  boldly,  ten  or  fifteen  feet 
high  in  places,  was  two  to  ten  feet  thick,  and  was  traced  more 
than  half  a  mile  in  length,  certainly  a  fine  prospect  for  a  true 
fissure  vein ;  but  it  did  not  prove  to  be  so.  The  country  or 
common  rock  was  limestone,  in  which  formation  I  believe  there 
is  hardly,  if  ever,  any  true  fissure  veins.  Granite  is  the  most 
favorable  formation,  it  being  composed,  in  part,  of  quartz. 
Still  this  ledge  had  depth  enough  to  produce  a  great  deal  of 
ore,  and  so  had  various  others.  But  the  distance  to  water,  to 
which  the  ore  and  wood  had  to  be  hauled,  the  high  price  of 
freight  and  labor,  and  the  incompetent  and  swindling  manage- 
ment would  not  allow  such  rock  to  be  worked  at  a  profit. 

The  discoverer  of  the  main  ledge  secured  the  greater  part 
of  it,  and   sold  it  to  a  stock  company  for  $50,000,  which  did 


86  California  to  Nevada. 


the  usual  thing  in  expending  perhaps  $1,000  a  day,  for  two 
years,  in  salaries,  etc.,  building  mills  and  furnaces,  blasting 
tunnels  and  shafts,  producing  a  few  hundred  dollars  in  bullion 
and  selling  stock.  Suppose  the  management  sold  three  and  a 
half  tons  of  stock  to  outsiders  for  $1,500,000,  and  their  actual 
expenditure  to  have  been  $500,000,  then  they  made  $1,000,000 
in  two  years.  Moreover,  had  they  developed  a  valuable  mine, 
or  struck  it  rich,  they  would  have  shut  down  just  the  same  so 
as  to  buy  the  three  and  a  half  tons  of  stock  back  for  about  the  cost 
of  the  paper  and  printing,  and  would  not  allow  the  mine  to  pay 
until  this  was  accomplished.  This  done,  the  "bonanza"  would 
be  uncovered,  bullion  produced,  and  so  magnified  and  adver- 
tised as  to  re-sell  the  stock  for  ten  times  the  real  value  of  the 
bonanza.  Think  not,  that  they  would  sell  the  stock  or  mine  or 
any  portion  of  it  at  a  good  bargain  to  strangers  !  Much  less 
that  they  would  spend  money  like  water  in  advertising  and 
hunting  up  strangers  to  favor  thus. 

A  smaller  claim  (400  feet  long),  supposed  to  be  of  the  same 
vein,  was  discovered  to  a  man  by  an  Indian  for  about  fifty  dol- 
lars, who  sold  it  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  which  then 
went  into  a  stock  or  share  company.  Don't  know,  how  many  "ten 
thousand"  dollars  were  written  in  the  deed,  nor  does  a  seller 
care.  Another  claim,  located  as  an  extension  to  this,  was  sold 
by  an  intelligent  and  practical  miner  for  a  saddle  horse  ;  which 
claim  also  went  into  an  eastern  stock  or  share  company,  with 
its  big-salaried  officers — ignorant  as  Indians  as  to  legitimate 
business  and  management.  They  each  bought  mills,  etc.,  the 
first  thing,  as  though  their  rock  would  pay  to  work  and  their 
saddle  horse  claims  had  been  developed  into  true  fissure  veins. 
One  of  them  produced  three  or  four  hundred  dollars  in  bullion. 

How  much  these  masons  made  by  selling  stock,  shares, 
"half,  quarter  or  tenth  interest,"  depended  on  how  many  idiots 
of  outsiders  they  found  willing  to  trust  their  money  to  secret 
gentry  of  a  charitable  (?)  order,  thus  leaping  into  the  dark, — 
and  how  well  they  were  fixed  with  money. 

It  was  the  agent  of  one  of  these  latter  companies  that  I 
met  at  Los  Angeles,  and  one  or  the  other  of  them  I  worked 
for  the  greater  part  of  my  stay  of  about  a  year  and  a  half  in 
the  district. 


Mining  Camps.  87 


I  and  another  man  had  a  contract  to  furnish  the  greater 
part  of  the  timber  and  joice  for  the  buikling  of  their  quartz- 
mills  and  furnaces.  It  had  to  be  sawed  or  squared  with  whip- 
saws.  The  price  was  one  hundred  dollars  per  1000  feet  in  the 
woods.  We  could  saw  about  300  feet  a  da}-.  Gave  a  man  with 
three  joke  of  oxen  thirty  dollars  a  day  to  snake  the  logs 
together. 

Then  I  worked  in  the  mines  at  six  dollars  a  day,  and  for 
two  or  three  months  was  night  watchman  at  the  mill,  etc.,  at 
seven  dollars  a  night. 

The  mills,  etc.,  being  completed,  spoiled  the  sale  of  stock, 
as  the  rock  would  not  pay  to  work,  and  the  companies,  being 
in  debt  for  labor  and  supplies,  let  the  property  go,  and  the 
agents  skipped  out.  They  owed  me  about  one  thousand 
dollars,  for  which  I  had  their  notes,  which  I  placed  in  the 
hands  of  an  ex-Chief  Justice  of  Utah  for  collection  from  the 
company  in  New  York.  I  also  corresponded  with  its  president 
and  agent ;  got  some  encouragement  for  several  years,  but  never 
got  any  money. 

There  were  other  companies  besides  those  noted,  that 
operated,  more  or  less,  on  other  ledges  in  this  district ;  but 
what  I  have  given  is  a  fair  illustration  of  the  others  and  of 
quartz  mining  generally  in  the  many  other  quartz  districts. 

A  few  other  persons  besides  those  alluded  to,  made 
some  money  by  selling  their  claims,  and  some  others  got  away 
with  a  few  hundred  dollars,  made  by  working  for  wages  or  on 
contracts.  But  the  most  of  the  money,  made  by  selling  claims, 
working  for  wages,  or  otherwise,  that  was  not  sj^end  for  Avhis- 
key,  etc.,  was  squandered  in  prospecting,  in  one  way  or  another, 
as  I  did. 

There  were  prospecting  parties  out  for  hundreds  of  miles 
in  all  directions  all  the  time,  in  some  of  which  I  was  always  in- 
terested. One  of  these  went  into  Death  Valley  and  beyond, 
thinking  that  it  ought  to  contain  lots  of  mineral,  if  it  was  "very 
good"  for  anything,  as  it  lacked  in  everything  else  but  sun- 
shine and  sand.  They  found  but  slight  prospects  and  returned, 
riding  and  packing  the  shadows  of  death.  If  artesian  water 
can  be  got,  and  it  is  not  salt,  this  valley  can  be  made  very 
productive,  there  being  plenty  of  sand  and  climate. 


88  California  to  Nev.\da. 


The  Pah-Ranagat  mining  camps  were  entirely  deserted 
(tlie  population  going  to  White  Pine),  and  the  county  organiza- 
tion was  abandoned,  when  the  taxable  properties  would  no 
longer  sell  for  the  salaries.  It  was  never  of  any  use  to  the 
people.  The  little  watered  valley  now  supports  a  small 
Mormon   settlement. 

Yet  there  is  much  silver-bearing  quartz  in  the  mountain, 
which,  with  improved  facilities  in  working  the  ore  and  in  trans- 
portation, with  honest  and  intelligent  management,  will  pay  to 
work,  as  a  legitimate  business,  and  pay  welL 

This  is  a  fair  sample  and  example  of  many  other  districts 
with  which  I  became  acquainted ;  so  to  describe  them  would 
be  but  to  substantially  repeat,  what  I  have  written  as  to  this 
one.  But  as  White  Pine  was  "  heap  big  "  c-h-i-e-f,  as  to 
fame,  excitement,  population,  richness  of  its  ore,  big  swindles, 
fond  hopes  and  regret,  and  as  I  was  there  from  its  rise  till  it 
tumbled  down,  I  will  give  my  information  and  experience  briefly, 
concerning  the  same. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Tlie  mines,  continued. — Exciting  reports  from  a  distant  mountain.  — Outfit 
one  of  a  party  to  go. — What  he  wrote  me.  —  "Ho  !  for  "WTiite  Pine  !  " — 
The  richest  silver  mine  ever  discovered. — The  jjure  stuff. — I  go,  too. 
— Visit  another  camp  on  the  way. — My  horse  and  saddle  "borrowed." 
— A  big  camj)  ablaze  with  excitement. — Belief  that  the  stuff  could  be 
found  any^vhere  by  digging. — The  many  thousand  "mines," — "Bril- 
liant schemes." — Blubbering  investors  from  the  states. — Life:  gamb- 
ling, drinking,  business  and  damnation. — Making  big  sales,  etc.;  the 
outcome. — Another  year  and  a  half  of  lively  practical  exijerience  in 
the  mines. — The  many  smaller  camps  in  the  surrounding  region. — 
Virginia  City  and  Gold  Hill. — The  great  Comstock  lode. — The 
Bonanza  and  other  great  stock  gambling  mines  that  we  read  of. 

When  stories,  that  the  since  famous  Eberhardt  mine  (then, 
and  yet  declared,  and  perhaps  truly,  to  be,  and  to  have  been 
the  richest  in  silver  ever  discovered  in  the  world)  had  been 
struck  at  White  Pine,  I  outfitted  one  of  a  party  to  go  and 
prospect  the  mountain  in  its  vicinity. 

It  succeeded  in  locating  a  claim  as  near  as  one  hundred 
feet  of  the  Eberhardt  itself,  besides  others,  as  enticing ;  and 
with  glowing  prospects  or  faith,  forthwith  blasted  a  hole  forty 
feet  deep  into  the  former.  Somehow  it  was  believed,  that  the 
stuff  could  be  struck,  as  lead  is  often  found,  with  little  or  no 
surface  indications,  most  anywhere  in  that  vicinity. 

My  partner  embraced  an  opportunity  to  send  me  a  letter ; 
he  wrote,  "We  have  one  first-rate  lead  and  continue  to  work 
on  our  shaft.  Shall  know  this  week  whether  we  are  in  or  out 
of  luck.  They  are  striking  it  all  around  us.  If  we  do  raise  the 
color  it  will  be  rich,  sure." 

On  my  way  to  White  Pine — 150  or  200  miles  distant — I 
stopped  a  few  days  in  "Grant  district,"  with  a  prospecting 
party,  with  whom  I  was  likewise  interested.  They  had  formed 
this  district.  Had  discovered  and  were  prospecting  some 
quartz  ledges,  and  the  prospects  and  outlook  were  such,  as  to 
induce  parties  owning  a  ten-stamp  quartz  mill  to  contract  to 
move  it  there,  set  it  up,  and  give  and  take  a  half  interest  in 
each.  The  mill  was  then  on  the  way,  one  of  our  party  having 
gone  out  on  the  trackless  desert  to  meet  the  train  and  pilot 

(89) 


90  The  Mines  of  Nevada. 


them  into  the  mines.  The  rock,  however,  was  refractory  to 
work  and  not  rich  enough  to  pay  at  that  time — or  so  it  was 
made  to  appear.  But  some  3'ears  afterwards  I  read  that  these 
mines  were  being  worked.  I  was  riding  a  horse  and  saddle, 
for  which  I  had  paid  $150,  (having  other  animals  with  pros- 
pecting parties)  and  on  apjDroaching  White  Pine  left  them  in 
the  care  of  an  old  friendly  acquaintance,  who  was  then  keeping 
a  horse  ranch, — that  is,  herding  horses  for  the  miners  and  others 
who  were  stopping  up  in  the  mountains,  where  there  was  no 
grass  or  water — where  the  winds  beat  against  the  bleak  and 
barren  cliffs,  and  the  birds  never  sing.  I  told  him,  as  a  friend, 
to  use  my  outfit  as  his  own,  on  any  needful  occasion.  He  after- 
wards did  so ;  having  sold  out,  he  rode  it  out  of  the  country — not 
even  calling  around  or  sending  word  to  thank  me,  or  say 
good-bye. 

Found  White  Pine  ablaze  with  excitement.  The  hills  and 
mountains  (9000  feet  high),  quite  thronged  with  men,  eagerly 
and  confidently  at  work  with  pick  and  drill,  hunting  for  the 
precious  ore. 

The  Eberhardt  mine  was  at  its  best,  turning  out,  with 
common  rock,  nearly  pure  virgin  and  horn  silver  by  the  ton. 
Bowlders  of  which  one  could  bore  an  auger  through.  A  guard 
of  several  men,  armed  with  rifles,  guarded  the  mine  at  ten 
dollars  a  night  each,  to  keep  it  out  of  the  courts. 

A  Governor  of  Colorado  was  killed  by  mistake,  by  his  own 
men,  who  were  thus  guarding  a  mine  of  his.  And  Uncle  Sam 
likewise  guards  his  silver  at  the  treasury,  and  with  grape  and 
canister,  wherein  he  decides  not  to  be  robbed — having  no  con- 
fidence in  his  own  courts.  I  note  these  only  as  prominent 
examples  of  a  common  custom  and  necessity,  to  stand  ready 
to  kill  men  in  defence  of  mere  property.  Why  should  not 
other  classes  of  robbers,  those  who  pillage  by  secret  intrigue 
and  treason,  be  likewise  killed  in  the  act  ? 

Deposits  or  bodies  of  ore,  more  or  less  rich  in  silver,  were 
found  in  various  places,  some  of  which  lay  flat  like  coal. 
This,  with  the  magnified  flaming  stories  and  rich  strikes,  that 
were  continually  flying  in  the  air,  increased  the  excitement  to 
such  a  pitch,  and  as  the  Eberhardt  itself  was  but  an  irregular 
body  of  ore  at  or  near  the  surface,  that  it  was  the  general  im- 


Thrilling  Experience  in  the  Mines.  91 

pression  that  this  district  was  nature's  freak,  so  that  silver 
could  be  found  for  a  mile  or  two  of  the  Eberhardt,  as  readily 
as  lead  is  found  in  galena  districts;  and  that  it  was  "rich,  sure." 

Moreover,  there  were  many  small  lead  deposits  in  the 
"base  mettle  range,"  in  the  district  close  by,  which  always 
carried  silver.  There  were  also  many  well  defined  ledges  of 
quartz  (but  which  were  prospected  in  vain).  So  tunnels  and 
square  holes  were  being  blasted  by  the  hundred.  In  many 
cases  without  any  surface  indications  whatever,  or  other  pros- 
pects, except  that  had  by  some  other  claim  in  the  vicinity. 

Shafts  were  so  thick  on  "Chloride  Flat,"  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Eberhardt,  that  the  flying  rock,  from  the  numerous 
blasts  in  the  lime-stone,  made  it  dangerous  to  be  about  them ; 
this  with  labor  at  five  dollars  coin  a  day,  or  by  contract  at 
twenty  dollars  per  foot. 

Thousands  of  such  claims  were  located  by  private  parties 
and  companies  such  as  ours,  who  would  largely  bond  and  sell 
to  speculating  mining  sharps,  who  are  expert  business  men. 
As  "  great  successful  lawyers  "  win  with  their  secret  power  in 
packing  juries  and  buying  judges,  so  the  expert  business 
miner  effects  his  sales  by  selling  stock  and  buying  other  experts 
and  agents.  They  making  the  most  of  the  far  reaching,  wide 
spread  excitement ;  newspaper  articles,  (often  in  editorials,  as 
though  the  editor  was  a  practical  man,  had  made  a  personal 
examination,  had  written  the  thing  himself  and  was  telling  the 
truth)  and  in  various  devices  of  the  profession,  often  succeeded 
in  effecting  fabulous  sales  to  the  good  people  in  the  states  and 
in  Europe. 

As  it  is  easier  to  get  a  big  swindle  through  Congress  or  a 
legislature  than  a  little  one,  so  it  is  easier  to  sell  a  worthless 
mine  for  a  big  sum,  than  a  small  sum,  as  enough  is  thus  afford- 
ed to  buy  the  thing  through,  and  leave  a  surplus. 

Such  were  the  "  mines,"  in  which  so  many,  at  a  distance, 
hopefully  invested  (and  so  did  we  who  were  there).  Sometimes 
mining  companies,  forming  at  a  distance,  would  not  bother 
about  the  little  matter  of  any  claim  at  all,  except  in  the  mind, 
as  not  needing  them  in  their  business  ;  to  the  great  surprise  of 
an  occasional  troublesome  investor,  who  happened  to  come  out 
to  visit  the  famed  (at  a  distance)  "  silver  king,"  etc.,  the  idol  of 


92  The  Mines  of  Nevada. 

his  heart  and  purse,  and  could  not  find  or  even  hear  of  it  in  the 
district. 

These  men  made  a  great  deal  of  trouble  now,  since  they 
could  travel  mostly  by  rail ;  when  in  former  times  they  were 
just  as  useful  in  "developing  the  country  "  and  were  not  in  the 
way.  I  was  told  of  such  imaginary  claims,  and  others  of  mere 
bowlders  or  holes  in  the  limestone,  that  were  stocked  for  from 
§500,000  to  $2,500,000,  and  that  by  working  famed  and 
titled  gentlemen's  names  as  directors,  etc.,  and  have  them  and 
editors  puff  up  the  scheme,  the  stock  would  sell  at  a  "  discount " 
so  as  to  leave  a  large  surplus. 

If  the  expert  business  men  in  Nevada  and  their  brethren 
in  the  big  cities  had  had  their  way,  these  meddlesome,  wailing 
lambs  would  have  been  snatched  up  and  buried  in  prison,  a 
censorship  placed  over  their  correspondence,  and  the  railroad 
ripped  up. 

But  they  were  somewhat  off-set  and  put  down  by  other 
visitors,  such  as  a  famous  "select  party  of  Chicago  merchants." 
They  travelled  in  a  special  train  and  stage  coaches,  were  met 
with  a  brazen  band ;  made  enticing,  flaming  reports  as  to  the 
general  richness  of  the  mines,  predicted  that  "  the  world  would 
be  amazed  at  the  wonderful  and  immense  streams  of  silver  that 
would  flow  from  White  Pine  to  enrich  the  people  of  the  earth," 
and,  no  doubt,  made  money  in  the  business. 

Of  course,  the  entire  press  in  the  U.  S.  would  gladly  publish, 
unquestioned,  the  reports  from  such  "  good  authority "  and 
attend  them  with  flattering  editorials  ;  when  they  would  spurn 
to  notice,  except  to  kick  and  condemn,  the  stories  of  the  bank- 
rupt, "blubbering,  revengeful  investors,  who  would  make 
trouble  and  injure  gentlemen  in  their  business."  Yet  some- 
how they  would  get  in  their  work,  so  that  foreign  capital  had 
to  be  invited,  and  even  it  got  too  shy  and  expensive  to  leave 
any  profit. 

Besides  quartz-mills,  furnaces,  etc.,  that  were  building, 
there  was  Shermantown,  Treasure  City  and  Hamilton,  populous 
mining  towns,  that  were  springing  up  rapidly,  with  lumber  $400 
or  $500  per  1000  feet,  etc.,  carpenter  wages  eight  dollars  a  day, 
(board  fourteen  dollars  a  week),  and  lots  selling  for  four,  five 
and  six  thousand  dollars,  and  often  with  titles  badly  clouded. 


Thkilling  Experience  in  the  Mines.  93 

Men  were  pouring  in  from  every  camp,  section,  state  and  clime. 
Every  store  included  a  bar,  to  graciously  assist  men  in  tlieir 
joy  at  selling  a  claim  or  town  lot,  and  in  their  many  disappoint- 
ments and  sorrows— for  two  bits  (twenty-five  cents)  a  drink. 
Spacious  gambling  houses,  etc.,  with  all  sorts  of  games  and  en- 
ticing coin  stacked  high  on  the  tables,  to  accommodate  the  lucky 
and  the  luckless  in  breaking  them  both.  Rich  strikes  and  big 
sales  were  daily  reported,  most  everybody  was  in  high  spirits 
and  expectations,  many  being  wild  and  some  crazed  with  the 
flaming  excitement  with  which  the  very  air  seemed  charged. 

Many  who  had  sold  claims  were  wildly  spending  the  money, 
always  expecting  to  sell  others  for  a  stake  to  go  away  with  and 
keep.  One  who  was  a  card-sharp,  gambled  off  $30,000  in  a 
little  while. 

The  mine  recorder  and  assistants  were  kept  busy  filing  the 
15,000  or  more  claims  that  were  recorded,  and  business  generally 
went  on  the  jump.  Yet  hundreds  were  hunting  for  employment 
or  to  borrow  a  few  dollars.  Two  or  three  daily  and  weekly 
papers  were  soon  being  published.  All  the  water  at  Treasure 
City  and  the  mines  cost  ten  cents  a  gallon,  while  works  were 
being  constructed  to  bring  it  up  from  a  small  stream  three 
miles  away,  at  a  cost  of  $250,000,  only  to  be  abandoned  or  torn 
up  soon  after  its  completion. 

In  about  a  year  and  a  half  all  this  faith,  bustle,  business 
and  surging  wave  of  eager  men  had  changed  to  disappointment, 
disgust  and  desertion.  The  prevailing  question  was  now,  how 
to  get  out  of  the  country  and  where  to  go  to,  as  this  state  was 
now  blistered  by  the  light  of  the  outside  world,  and  a  railroad 
was  running  as  near  as  120  miles,  and  wires  were  stretched  into 
the  camp. 

Not  a  single  extensive  paying  mine  or  fissure  vein  of  ore 
had  been  discovered,  and  but  a  few  small  paj'ing  deposits,  not 
any  containing  a  fortune,  except  the  cause  of  all  the  flattering 
tales,  rush  and  conflict  of  men, — the  Eberhardt.  And  it  was 
now  virtually  worked  out,  sold,  and  incorporated  to  sell  again 
and  again  to  Englishmen,  by  its  fame. 

Shermantown,  from  a  population  of  4000,  Treasure  City  of 
7000,  besides  the  many  hundreds  of  outside  cabins  and  small 


94:  The  Mines  of  Nevada. 


camps  for  many  miles  around,  were  now,  in  a  few  months,  al- 
most entirely  deserted.  But  Hamilton  with  its  5000  inhabitants, 
being  the  county  seat  and  capital  of  a  region  extensive  enough 
for  a  state,  held  on  to  a  few  hundred.  This  district  and  the  sur- 
rounding regions  are  strangely  marked  with  numerous  deserted 
quartz  mills,  roasting  and  smelting  furnaces,  shafts,  tunnels 
and  habitations, — lasting  monuments  of  ill-spent  time  and 
wealth. 

Still  there  is  a  great  deal  of  mineral-bearing  rock  in  the 
mountains  of  Nevada,  that  will  be  worked  in  the  future. 

Having  acquired  interests  in  different  claims  at  White  Pine, 
some  of  which  appeared  quite  promising,  which  were  bonded 
to  sell  for  various  large  sums  (the  poorest  one — near  the  Eber- 
hardt — for  enough  to  make  us  each  a  fortune)  and  being  still 
at  work  in  prospecting  others,  I  felt,  like  so  many  others, 
greatly  encouraged  as  to  the  outcome. 

Once  a  telegram  came  from  San  Francisco  that  a  big  sale 
had  been  accomplished,  and  our  money  would  be  deposited 
that  day.  But  it  transpired  that  in  a  succession  of  agents,  ex- 
perts, etc.,  sent  by  different  members  of  the  company  formed 
to  buy,  there  was  one,  and  only  one,  and  the  last  one  to  report, 
that  was  not  convinced  by  those  in  charge  of  the  business  at  the 
mine.  His  unexpected  adverse  telegram  meanwhile,  was  a  fatal 
blister  on  the  mine  and  sale. 

If  he  had  given  them  any  warning,  they  could  have  cut  the 
wire  and  secured  the  coin.  And  as  the  reaction  and  collapse 
of  the  camp  came  almost  as  sudden  as  the  blaze  was  kindled, 
none  of  our  big  sales  were  effected.  I  therefore  shared  with 
the  thousands  of  others  in  the  general  disappointment.  Way 
back  in  the  wild,  cannibal  infested,  fever-stricken  jungles  of 
South  America  or  Africa,  is  the  best  place  to  locate  gold  and 
silver  mines. 

However,  I  made  some  money  by  small  sales,  by  sinking 
shafts  and  running  tunnels  at  twenty  dollars  a  foot.  In  one 
claim  we  had  a  body  of  ore  that  appeared  to  be  quite  extensive, 
it  being  solid  ore  fifteen  feet  deep,  as  far  as  we  sunk  in  it.  But 
on  having  a  few  tons  of  it  milled,  it  produced  but  about  thirty 
dollars  a  ton,  which  would  not  pay  at  that  time.     Some  of  it 


Thrilling  Expeeience  in  the  Mines.  95 

assayed  at  the  rate  of  one  liunclred  dollars  a  ton.  As  it  had  not 
the  appearance  of  a  regular  vein  we  abandoned  it.  Doubtless 
it  was  afterwards  worked  out  by  others.  This  was  the  "Union 
Standard,"  at  the  base  of  a  high  rock  bluff,  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  north  of  the  Eberhardt. 

Virginia  City  and  Gold  Hill  were  built  up  during  a  similar 
excitement  ten  years  before  White  Pine.  But  there  proved  to 
be  there  one  mammoth,  true  fissure  vein — 400  or  500  feet  thick 
and  more  than  two  miles  long — the  Comstock  lode. 

In  this  are  the  "Bonanza"  and  other  famous  stock  gambling 
mines  of  Nevada,  some  of  which  are  being  or  have  been  pros- 
pected to  a  depth  of  3,500  feet,  and  to  drain  it  to  about  1900 
feet  down,  the  Sutro  tunnel  was  run  20,178  feet. 

But  even  in  this  great  fissure  lode — the  greatest  gold  and 
silver  vein  in  the  world — there  are  many  mines  that  have  never 
payed  to  work  as  a  legitimate  business.  One  of  these  has  ex- 
pended millions  of  dollars  in  prospecting,  without  finding  any 
pay  rock.  I  believe  it  has  never  produced  a  dollars  worth  of 
bullion,  though  "Bullion"  is  its  name. 


"Record  of  Assessments  and  Dividends  op  the   Comstock 

Mines. 

Fifty  mines  have  each  collected  [1881]  more  than  $100,000 
in  assessments,  and  eighteen  more  together  have  collected 
$735,000.  In  this  estimate  is  not  included  the  assessment  by 
companies  which  have  been  dissolved  or  incorporated  in  others. 
These  fifty  mines  have  levied  $58,723,000-  in  assessments. 
Of  these  Yellow  Jacket  leads  off  with  $1,878,000;  Savage 
with  $4,809,000  ;  Sierra  Nevada,  $4,200,000 ;  Bullion,  $3,850,000 ; 
Hale  and  Norcross,  $3,409,000;  Belcher,  $2,208,000;  Ophir, 
$2,988,000;  Gould  and  Curry,  $3,206,000;  CrowTi  Point, 
$2,423,000;  and  so  on  through  the  Hst,  there  being  seven- 
teen mines  which  have  gathered  in  over  $1,000,000  in 
assessments. 

Of  the  seventy-one  mines  on  the  Comstock,  seventy  have 
levied  assessments,    amounting  in  all  to  $59,458,000,  and  only 


96  The  Mines  of  Nevada. 


fourteen  have  paid  any  dividends.     These  fourteen  are  as  follows, 

with  their  dividends : 

Con.   Virginia,  $42,930,000 

California, 30,950,000 

Belcher, 15,307,200 

Crown  Point, 11,688,000 

Savage, 4,460,000 

Gould  and  Curry, 3,825,000 

YeUow  Jacket, 2,184,000 

Hale  and  Norcross, 1,598,000 

Ophir, 1,594,000 

Kentuck, 1,252,000 

Con.  Imperial, 1,125,000 

Sierra  Nevada, 102,200 

Confidence, 78,000 

Darney, 57,000 

Succor, 22,800 

Total,  $117,173,200 

An  examination  of  this  list  will  show,  that  only  six  mines  have 
paid  their  stockholders  more  than  lliey  have  taken  from  them. 
These  are  Belcher,  California,  Consolidated  Virginia,  Crown  Point, 
Gould  and  Curry,  and  Kentuck.  One  who  is  familiar  ^\T.th  the 
Comstock,  will  see  at  a  glance  that  all  these  mines  have  been 
largely  owned  and  controlled  by  the  Bonanza  firm.  So,  when 
you  say  Consolidated  Virginia,  California  and  Belcher  have 
paid  $89,277,200  in  dividends,  you  may  also  add,  that  three- 
quarters  of  this  amount  has  gone  directly  into  the  pockets  of 
Flood,  Mackay  and  Fair.  The  outside  investors  have  always  come 
in  just  as  the  dividends  ceased,  and  have  invariably  been  on  hand 
to  pay  assessments.  California  never  levied  an  assessment.  Con- 
soHdated  Virginia  only  $411,000.  The  bulk  of  this  stock  has 
always  been  held  by  the  Bonanza  firm,  and  its  $74,000,000 
of  dividends  represent  a  good  part  of  their  colossal  wealth, 
gained  in  the  last  ten  years. 

The  army  of  small  speculators  have  put  their  money  into 
other  mines,  and  have  been  allowed  the  pri^nlege  of  paying  for 
working  ore,  whose  chief  value  lay  in  the  elaborate  analysis  of 
well-paid  experts. 

An  illustration  of  the  methods  employed  on  the  Stock  Ex- 
change is  f  ui'nished  in  the  recent  rise  and  decline  of  Alta.    It  was 


Thrilling  Experience  in  the  Mines.  97 

selling  at  one  dollar  and  sixty  cents,  and  was  a  comparatively 
dead  stock.  Suddenly  mysterious  rumors  spread  around,  that  the 
diamond  drillings  had  shown  a  rich  ore  body.  Soon  these  rumors 
were  confii-medby  the  superintendent  and  others  in  control,  and  they 
privately  advised  their  friends  to  buy  up  all  the  Alta  they  could 
lay  hands  on.  Of  course,  this  reached  the  street  in  a  few  hours. 
Alta  bounded  up  to  five  dollars,  then  on  to  ten,  and,  within  a 
week,  twenty  dollars,  and  afterwards  to  twenty  dollars  and  fifty 
cents.  A  vast  amount  of  stock  was  bought.  Suddenly  it  was 
hinted,  that  a  gigantic  '  deal'  had  been  made  by  the  management 
who,  in  turn,  tried  to  make  it  appear  that  the  superintendent  had 
'  salted '  the  drillings  and  thus  got  good  indications.  Confidence 
was  shattered ;  there  was  a  wild  rout,  and  the  stock  fell  rapidly 
from  twenty  dollars  to  three  dollars  and  fifteen  cents.  When 
there  was  talk  of  an  official  investigation  of  the  mine,  the 
lower  levels  were  conveniently  flooded  with  water.  This  is  but 
an  example  of  many  other  swindles. 

A  short  time  before  a  very  bad  '  deal '  was  made  in  Belcher, 
and  it  was  found  necessary  to  flood  the  mine,  when  the  outsiders 
had  all  been  fleeced. 

There  is  a  growing  sentiment  among  the  people,  which 
demands  that  some  check  be  placed  upon  the  lawless  schemes  of 
those  who,  for  years,  have  fleeced  the  credulous  by  swindles  that 
would  make  a  faro-dealer  blush,  and  have  driven  thousands  to 
suicide  and  crime. 

''  1882.  —  We  [committee]  consider  the  management  [of 
Bullion]  recklessly  extravagant  and  characterized  by  a  total  dis- 
regard of  the  rights  of  stockholders.  With  reference  to  the 
Belcher  and  Crown  Point  mines,  the  Belcher  mine  has  produced 
from  May,  1881,  to  December,  1882,  28,154  tons  of  ore,  the  value 
of  which  we  are  unable  to  determine  [it  being  a  ring  secret]. 
Such  evidence  as  we  could  obtain  placing  the  value  at  from  thirty 
to  forty  dollars  per  ton.  This  ore  was  sold  in  the  mine  for  fifty 
cents  per  ton,  and  the  parties  [brethren]  buying  said  ore  were 
allowed  to  use  the  company's  shaft  and  works  to  raise  the  ore  to 
the  surface.  We  find,  the  Crown  Point  mine  produced  from 
March,  1881,  to  December,  1882,  68,457  tons  under  similar  con- 
ditions, and  it  was  also  sold  for  fifty  cents  per  ton  [to  brethren]. 
These  mines  are  still  producing  about  5000  tons  per  month  on  the 
terms  as  before  stated.  These  two  mines  are  managed  badly  and 
with  a  total  disregard  of  the  rights  of  stockholders. 
7 


98  The  Mines  of  Nevada. 

The  proxy  system  enables  people  who  do  not  own  any  stock, 
to  control  mines  and  run  them  in  their  own  interest. 

^^'Tu  sad,  but  ^ lis  ivell. — 1883. — There  is  something  peculiarly 
sad  about  the  decline  of  Virginia  City.  The  story  of  its  rise  and 
its  character  in  prosperous  days,  reads  like  a  brilliant  flight  of 
imagination.  No  other  city  in  the  world  was  ever  like  it.  Its 
business,  its  wealth,  its  prodigality,  its  wickedness— each,  in  its 
Avay,  was  peculiar.  And  the  desolation  which  now  so  contrasts 
with  the  rush  and  glitter  of  the  palmy  time,  is  a  desolation  the  like 
of  which  has  never  before  been  seen  on  the  American  continent. 
Eight  years  ago  Virginia  City  and  Gold  Hill,  adjoining  each  other, 
had  35,000  population.  It  was  the  largest  community  between 
Denver  and  San  Francisco.  There  were  merchants  doing  business 
with  a  million  capital.  There  were  private  houses  that  cost 
$100,000.  There  were  stamp  mills  and  mining  structures  that  cost 
$500,000  each.  There  were  three  daily  newspapers,  and  a 
hotel  that  cost  $300,000.  Among  the  people  were  a  score  or 
more  men,  worth  from  $300,000  to  $30,000,000.  Mackay  and 
Fair  both  lived  there.  There  were  three  banks,  a  gas  company, 
a  water  company,  a  splendid  theatre  and  a  costly  court  house. 
Eight  years  have  passed  and  the  town  is  a  "vyreck.  The  35,000 
people  have  dwindled  to  5000.  The  banks  have  retired.  The 
merchants  have  closed  up  and  left ;  the  hotel  is  abandoned ;  the 
gas  company  is  bankrupt,  and  scores  of  costly  residences  have 
either  been  taken  to  pieces  and  moved  away,  or  given  over  to  bats. 
Real  estate  cannot  be  given  away  for  taxes.  Nothing  can  be  sold 
that  will  cost  its  worth  to  move  away.  The  rich  men  have  aU 
gone.  Those  who  remain  are  the  miners,  their  superintendents, 
and  the  saloon  men  and  gamblers.  The  latter  are  usually  the  first 
to  come  to  a  mining  town  and  the  last  to  leave.  The  cause  of 
this  decadence,  which  has  swallowed  up  millions  of  capital  and 
wrecked  the  worldly  ambition  of  thousands  of  persons,  is  the 
failure  of  the  Comstock  mines  to  turn  out  additional  wealth. 

Since  its  discovery,  in  1860,  there  have  been  taken  from  that 
single  vein,  in  a  space  of  less  than  3,000  lineal  feet,  no  less  than 
$285,000,000  of  gold  and  silver,  and  of  this  about  $110,000,000 
came  from  the  Bonanza  mines  alone.  Exclude  Flood,  Mackay, 
Fair  and  Sharon  from  the  list,  and  those  who  have  preserved 
the  fortunes,  made  on  the  Comstock,  may  be  counted  on 
one's  fingers.  But  the  millions  upon  millions  that  have  been  sunk 
in  the  whirlpool  of  speculation  are  almost  incalculable.    San  Fran- 


i^    -'-'I  I  VERS  J 


Thrilling  Experiences  in  the  Mines.  99 

Cisco  is  to-day  full  of  financial,  physical  and  moral  wrecks,  by  the 
treachery  of  the  great  Comstock  and  the  illusive  hopes  of  the 
gambling  multitude." 

And  the  Comstock  was  the  great  gold  and  silver  lode  of  the 
known  world,  having  yielded,  it  is  said,  about  $500,000,000 
to  date. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Building  the  U.  P.  and  Central  railroads. — A  general  rugged  prospecting 
toiir  of  seven  months  in  Nevada,  Idaho  and  Montana. — On  to  Wash- 
ington Territory. — The  country,  climate,  soil,  scenery,  fishing,  hunt- 
ing, incidents,  etc.,  etc. — Finding  the  true  source  of  the  fine  gold  in 
the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers. — The  more  famous  of  the  Idaho 
Placer  mines. 

It  was  February,  1870.  The  U.  P.  and  Central  Pacific  Eail- 
roads  were  completed  a  few  months  previously.  As  the 
Government  had  given  these  companies  more  money  and  other 
means  than  was  required  to  build  the  roads,  they  could  afford 
to,  and  they  did  spent  it  with  an  open  hand  in  rushing  them 
through.  This  made  times  good  and  lively  along  the  route,  so 
that  money  was  made  rapidly  in  various  ways  and  channels  of 
trade,  by  live  men,  with  but  little  money  capital.  For  example: 
one  with  a  few  pony  teams  could  make  a  stake  in  a  short  time, 
in  grading  or  teaming  on  or  along  the  road.  The  wages  paid 
were  high — five  dollars  or  more  per  day  for  a  fifty  or  sixty 
dollar  team,  and  driver,  to  scrape,  etc.,  and  the  wages  were 
doubled  for  night  and  Sunday  work. 

Several  of  my  acquaintances  had  left  the  mines  for  the 
railroad,  and  had  done  far  better  than  we,  who  remained  to  dig 
it  out  of  the  ground. 

The  Northern  Pacific  railroad  had  now  been  chartered  by 
Congress,  with  a  land  grant  more  than  sufficient  to  build  and 
equip  it,  with  a  provision,  that  the  road  had  to  be  built  immedi- 
ately, or  the  Empire  of  land  would  revert  to  the  people.  There- 
fore, it  was  the  talk  and  general  belief  that  it  would  be  pushed 
through  at  once,  and  that  the  opportunities  for  earning  money 
on  the  N.  P.  would  be  good,  if  not  equal,  to  that  on  the  U.  P. 
and  Central. 

The  glittering  prospects  in  the  mining  regions  were  blasted 
since  the  railroad  was  built,  but  I  was  not  yet  quite  satisfied  to 
give  up  the  chase ;  mainly,  because  of  my  love  of  travel  and 
adventure,  and  I  would  now  have  the  advantage  of  my  previous 
three  years'  active  experience  in  quartz,  making  me  somewhat 
expert  in  the  business. 

(100) 


(101) 


A  Canyon. 


102  Idaho  and  Montana. 


So  I  concluded  to  now  make  an  extensive,  general  prospect- 
ing tour  through  the  wild  mountain  ranges  to  the  north,  for 
both  quartz  and  placer  diggings,  and  for  the  pleasure  of  travel; 
and  if  unsuccessful  in  finding  any  ground  enticing  enough  to 
cling  to,  would  terminate  my  travels  at  Puget  Sound,  or  else 
where  near  the  proposed  route  of  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad. 

Accordingly,  during  the  succeeding  seven  months,  I  visited 
several  mining  districts  and  camps  in  Nevada,  Idaho  and 
Montana,  and  prospected,  more  or  less,  the  mountain  ranges 
intervening.  Was  in  the  Owyhee,  Upper  Snake  and  Salmon 
river  regions,  and  in  the  mountains  at  the  source  of  the  Jeflfer- 
sor.  Fork  of  the  Missouri  river. 

I  noticed  some  spots  of  pretty  good  farming  land  on  the 
Humboldt  river  in  Nevada,  about  the  northern  line  of  the 
state,  and  in  Idaho,  also  in  Lemhi  and  Bitter-root  valleys,  near 
the  summit  of  the  Rockies  in  Montana,  also  much  good  grazing 
country.  But  I  saw  far  more  that  is  i  agged,  shaggy,  barren 
and  forbidding.  I  talked  with  immigrants  from  good  localities 
in  the  Western  States,  and  on  asking  one  why  they  chose  to 
leave  what  I  considered  fairer  sections  of  country  to  live  in,  to 
settle  in  such  a  wild  region,  he  answered:  that  these  valleys 
were  like  the  places  they  had  left — very  enticing  at  a  distance ; 
or  in  his  own  words,  "they  are  hell  a  good  ways  oflf."  Neither 
had  filled  the  pictures  of  their  imaginations. 

Was  at  the  two  great  falls  of  Snake  river,  175  and  260  feet 
fall,  and  enjoyed  some  beautiful  scenery,  but  the  most  of  it  is 
dreary  and  distressing.  Had  good  fishing  sometimes, — in  the 
upper  Snake  there  were  plenty  of  salmon  trout,  weighing  ten 
or  fifteen  pounds,  and  very  fat.  Game— including  bear,  wild- 
cat, etc., — was  likewi«e  quite  plentiful,  though  not  by  any 
means  as  much  so  as  we  usually  read  about,  and  is  generally 
supposed. 

Climbed  over  snow-clad  mountains— wading  and  plunging 
in  the  snow  in  July,  and  the  next  day  or  two  would  be  suffer- 
ing with  heat  in  some  valley  below. 

Generally  found  plenty  of  company  in  various  prospecting 
parties.  Many  of  these  men  were  highly  learned  and  experi- 
enced in  the  world,  and  of  fine  feelings,  while  even  the  others 


(1U3) 


104  Idaho  and  Montana. 


are  agreeable  companions  for  a  time,  to  one  who  knows  how  to 
take  them. 

I  will  note  a  little  incident  of  many,  I  would  like  to  give, 
in  illustration  of  the  generous  traits  possessed  by  many  who 
despise  the  selfish,  sign-  and  grisp-machine  charity  (?). 

Meeting  a  party  of  miners  with  their  pack  animals  on  their 
way  to  a  settlement  and  store  for  supplies,  (they  being  settled 
and  working  a  Placer  claim)  I  borrowed  a  pocket  knife  of  one 
of  them,  as  we  stopped  for  a  moment  to  talk,  as  I  had  lost  my 
own.  He  would  not  receive  it  back  or  any  pay  for  it,  "  as  he 
would  soon  be  where  he  could  get  another,"  he  said.  It  was  a 
fancy  one,  worth  three  dollars.  They  also  furnished  some  of  our 
party  with  provisions  in  the  same  way.  We  had  never  met 
before,  and  never  expected  to  again.  If  we  should  go  with 
them  to  their  rough  cabin  home,  we  could  see  gold  dust  in  a 
segar  box  on  a  shelf,  or  in  a  powder  keg,  and  as  long  as  it  lasted 
no  one  would  be  allowed  to  pass  them  by  in  need. 

Those  who  experience  in  themselves  and  appreciate  in 
others  the  pure  pleasure  in  these  unguilded,  unselfish,  genial 
traits,  should  be  judged  in  kind  whenever  they  fall  among  pro- 
fessional "  charitable  "  brethren,  as  they  are  pretty  sure  to  do 
sometime,  being  neither  cunning  nor  cruel. 

Having  a  good  outfit,  permitting  nothing  to  worry  me,  and 
having  no  great  expectations  to  be  shattered,  that  season  of 
travel  was  mostly  a  picnic.  The  rugged  side  was  in  fording 
rapid  and  rocky  streams,  and  others  having  deceitful  bottoms 
of  mire ;  crossing  steep,  rocky  gorges,  and  through  African 
jungles,  woven  with  fallen  timber. 

My  horses  became  so  accustomed  to  climbing,  jumping 
and  sliding,  that  they  were  so  reckless  of  danger,  that  their 
often  superior  judgment  could  not  be  trusted.  Sometimes, 
however,  they  would  pick  their  way  and  somehow  get  over  or 
through  places,  where  one  could  not  see  any  possible  way, 
when  often  a  mis-step  would  send  them  tumbling  to  roaring 
waters  in  the  rocky  gorges,  hundreds  of  feet  below,  and  when 
weary,  would  jump  at  the  opposite  side  of  a  ditch  or  against  a 
ledge,  or  fallen  trees,  when  they  knew  they  must  fall  back. 

Sometimes  flies  and  mosquitoes  were  so  thick  and  masonic, 
that  we  had  to  blanket  our  horses  for  a  slight  protection ;  so  it 


The  Idaho  Placer  Mijses.  lOo 

was  no  wonder  they  would  leave  us  alone  with  strange  Indians, 
to  take  up  with  their  horses  that  were  free.  But  a  sinall 
number  of  horses,  if  their  leaders  are  kindly  treated,  are  not 
apt  to  leave  a  camp  unless  they  know  of  better  company  near  by. 
And  a  single  animal  will  hardly  ever  leave  its  rider  in  a  strauge 
and  lonely  place.  My  pack-horse  was  no  more  trouble  in 
travelling,  than  a  dog — being  as  sure  to  follow.  Once  on  the 
side  of  a  deep  gorge  he  fell,  rolled  over  a  time  or  two  and 
landed  against  a  log.  After  he  had  climbed  back,  I,  with  my 
foot,  started  the  log  tumbling  to  the  bottom,  which  I  could  not 
see.  While  more  lost  and  separated  than  usual,  I  was  twenty- 
four  hours  without  water ;  the  day  was  hot,  got  past  being 
thirsty  and  became  sick,  so  the  water  did  not  taste  good  when 
I  found  it,  which  I  did  by  my  horses  scenting  it  at  a  distance. 

Found  beaver  quite  plentiful  in  places.  In  their  work  is 
displayed  a  reasoning  faculty  equal  to  that  of  some  men.  In 
felling  trees  for  dams,  they  cut  them  so  as  to  fall  where  they 
want  them. 

One  night  we  were  all  awoke  by  the  rumbling  sound  and 
three  distinct  shocks  of  an  earthquake,  but  could  hear  nothing 
about  it  on  reaching  habitations. 

Ice  sometimes  formed  at  night  at  our  camps,  in  July  and 
August. 

My  whereabouts  that  season  were  so  uncertain,  that  I  re- 
ceived letters  which  had  been  re-mailed  half  a  dozen  times. 

As  to  the  golden  object  in  that  season's  prospecting: — 
Found  several  prospects  in  quartz,  about  equal  to  that  I  had 
left  in  Nevada,  and  in  placer  diggings  many  places  that  would 
yield  one  to  two  dollars  a  day,  but  none  that  would  probably 
pay  to  work  at  that  time.  The  whole  country  had  been  pretty 
closely  prospected,  and  the  paying  ground  worked.  I  was 
now  satisfied  as  to  this,  and  tired  of  the  business,  of  the 
mountains,  and  of  rambling  about  in  this  way. 

I  learned,  that  times  were  pretty  good  in  Washington 
Territory,  and  horses  were  cheap  in  the  Walla  Walla  section. 
So  I  decided  to  go  there  and  work  at  whatever  I  found  to  do, 
and  buy  as  many  horses  as  I  was  able,  to  work  with  on  the  N. 
P.  railroad,  whenever  its  construction  was  commenced  in 
earnest. 


106  Idaho  and  Montana. 


Arriving  at  Fort  Owens,  in  Bitter-root  valley,  Montana — 
which  valley  was  then  being  settled  and  improved — I  found 
myself  on  one  of  the  proposed  routes  of  the  N.  P.  E.  R. 

With  a  single  companion  struck  West  through  the 
mountains  by  the  Lo  Lo  Indian  trail  for  Lewiston,  Idaho,  and 
the  Walla  Walla,  Washington  Territory  country,  fifty  or  one 
hundred  miles  beyond  it.  Lewiston  being  situated  on  the 
western  verge  of  the  pan-handle  of  Idaho,  near  the  head  of 
navigation  on  Snake  river,  400  miles  from  Portland,  Oregon,  and 
495  miles  by  water  from  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river. 

On  the  way  to  Lewiston,  we  fell  in  with  a  couple  of  rail- 
road surveying  parties,  who  were  hunting  for  a  route ;  also 
numerous  Nez-Perce  Indians,  ou  their  way  home  from  hunting 
buffalo  and  fighting  the  Sioux  on  their  own  or  neutral  hunting 
grounds  in  the  Yellowstone  country. 

The  Grouse,  or  "fool  hen,"  is  a  bird  of  the  same  family, 
it  appears  to  me,  as  the  partridge  and  pheasant.  They  differ 
from  each  other  in  about  the  same  degree  as  do  the  Chinamen, 
Esquimaux  and  Indians.  Inhabiting  different  climates,  and 
compelled  to  live  by  different  modes  and  food,  may  account  for 
all  the  difference  found  in  them.  As  to  the  difference  in  dialect, 
this  can  be  comprehended  and  accounted  for  by  observing  the 
same  in  different  local  districts  among  the  same  race  of 
white  men — in  those  of  the  East,  South  and  West— after  so 
short  a  time  and  with  such  comparative  free  and  frequent 
communication  and  mingling  with  each  other.  We  found  this 
bird  so  plentiful  and  tame  at  many  places  on  this  trip,  that  we 
could  kill  most  any  amount  of  them  with  sticks,  as  .we  rode 
along. 

Camped  by  a  hot  sulphur  flowing  spring  on  this  Lo  Lo 
trail,  and  enjoyed  a  bath  in  its  blue  waters  where  it  formed  a 
pond,  cool  enough  for  comfort. 

These  mountains  are  craggy,  but  thickly  wooded  with  much 
good  timber  of  fir,  tamerack,  spruce,  cedar  and  pine. 

On  the  western  slope  are  some  fertile  prairie  valleys,  and 
on  approaching  Lewiston  (twenty-four  miles  east  from  where 
I  finally  settled  to  make  a  home)  found  ourselves  in  a  good 
prairie  farming  country,  though  not  inhabited,  except  by 
Indians.      Here  we  found  a  Government  Indian  Agency,  also  a 


The  Idaho  Placer  Mines.  107 

military  post  and  the  American  flag.  We  called  at  the  post  for 
information  as  to  our  whereabouts.  Afterwards  I  sold  grain 
here  that  I  liad  raised. 

There  is  fine,  light  gold  in  the  bars  of  Snake  river,  any- 
where from  near  its  source  to  its  confluence  with  the  Columbia 
(150  miles  below  Lewiston),  also  in  the  Columbia  and  Salmon 
rivers,  which  was  supposed  by  many  to  come  from  some  fabu- 
lous rich  fountain  or  quartz  deposits  in  the  rugged  mountains 
at  the  rivers'  source.  But  we  had  found  this  not  to  be  the 
case,  but  that  the  rivers  flowing,  as  they  do,  through  a  gold- 
bearing  country,  where  a  color  can  be  found  most  anywhere, 
got  their  supply  from  the  natural  washes  and  streams  tributary 
to  them,  with  the  annual  wash  of  sand,  gravel,  mud  and  drift. 
Hundreds  of  Chinamen  and  some  white  men  mine,  with  rockers, 
on  the  bars  of  these  rivers,  during  the  low  stage  of  water,  mak- 
ing one  or  two  dollars  per  day. 

Orofino,  Warrens,  and  other  rich  placer  camps,  which 
created  such  excitement  and  brought  Idaho  into  notice  in  the 
states,  in  1860,  are  in  these  Salmon  river  and  Clearwater  moun- 
tains. Lewiston  being  their  point  of  supply  and  wintering 
place.  Its  climate  nearly  equals  that  of  the  valleys  of  Cali- 
fornia. 

For  a  year  or  two  the  lowest  price  for  supplies  was  one 
dollar  a  pound  at  the  mines,  and  they  created  a  splendid 
market  for  many  years  ;  which  started  many  into  farming  in  the 
Walla  Walla  country,  and  gave  it  and  them  a  good  start  in  the 
world.  The  old  Indian  and  packing  trails  to  Walla  Walla  and 
beyond  are  ten  or  fifteen  in  width,  and  tramped  deep  in  the 
fertile  soil ;  and  mining  is  still  going  on  at  those  famous  camps, 
and  pack  trains  are  still  trailing  to  and  from  Lewiston.  I  had 
been  acquainted  with  different  ones  in  Nevada,  who  had 
travelled  through  this  country  from  California  and  Oregon, 
and  dug  gold  in  these  mines,  so  I  had  in  advance  quite  an 
accurate  idea  as  to  each. 


CHAPTER  VIM. 

A  compreliensive  descriptiou  of  tlie  Walla  "Walla  country;  soil,  climate 
and  productions,  and  the  lay  of  the  land. — Hire  ont  on  a  farm  for  two 
months. — The  secret  of  success  and  failure  in  government  and  corpo- 
ration contracts. — Secret  intrigue  at  military  posts,  etc. — ExjDerience 
in  work  in  the  mountain. — Locate  a  land  claim  and  get  married. — 
A  year's  experience. 

A.EEIVED  in  Lewiston  about  the  middle  of  September,  1870. 
Crossed  the  river  into  Washington  Territory,  and  travelled 
north-west  for  eight  miles  over  a  somewhat  sterile  grazing 
country  near  the  river ;  when  I  came  onto  a  wooded  creek  with 
narrow  bottom  (the  Alpowa),  inhabited  and  farmed  somewhat 
by  Indians,  for  a  few  miles,  and  by  an  old  Yankee  bachelor  who 
kept  a  hotel  and  stage  station,  and  raised  cattle.  Said,  he  had 
found  it  to  be  the  best  economy  to  provide  flour,  instead  of 
other  feed,  for  his  stock,  when  the  weather  was  such  that  they 
needed  feeding.  (It  was  at  the  head  of  this  creek,  to  the  south- 
west, that  I  afterwards  built  my  home).  Leaving  this  creek  by 
a  big  hill,  and  riding  for  ten  miles  over  a  level  bunch-grass 
prairie  (destitute  of  water  and  wood,  but  a  belt  of  timber  was 
plainly  to  be  seen  twelve  to  fifteen  miles  to  the  south),  when  I 
went  down  another  big  hill  on  to  another  creek  (the  Pataha), 
having  a  bottom  quite  destitute  of  wood,  and  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  wide  for  twenty-five  miles  to  Snake  river. 

The  upper  portion,  reaching  back  into  the  Blue  mountain 
about  thirty  miles,  being  still  more  contracted  and  more 
wooded.  All  of  it,  from  its  source  to  its  mouth,  is  quite  fenced 
in  by  high,  abrupt  hills  on  either  side,  and  so  is  the  Alpowa. 

From  the  top  of  these  hills,  vast,  thickly-planted  bunch 
grass  prairies  extend  north  to  Snake  river  some  fifteen  miles, 
and  south  to  the  timber  of  the  Blue  mountains  about  the  same 
distance  away.  These  prairies,  however,  are  more  or  less  cut 
up  with  ravines  and  gulches,  are  scantily  watered  and  com- 
pletely destitute  of  wood.  I  found  this  creek  bottom,  or  the 
most  of  it  that  was  fit  for  cultivation  (the  lower  portion), 
settled  up  and  farmed,  but  the  adjoining  prairies  were  entirely 
unoccupied,  except  by  a  few  bands  of  cattle  and  horses  belong- 

(108) 


Locate  a  Land  Claim  and  get  Married.  109 

ing  to  the  creek  settlers.  The  farmers  here  were  threshing 
their  grain  with  a  ten  or  twelve  horse  power  machine.  Thej 
had  to  collect  and  change  work  with  each  other  for  a  distance 
of  ten  or  fifteen  miles  to  form  a  threshing  crew.  They  being 
short  of  help,  and  I  having  but  a  few  dollars  left,  stopped  and 
worked  for  them  a  few  days,  at  two  dollars  a  day,  which  seemed 
very  small  wages  to  me  then. 

The  yield  of  wheat,  oats  and  barley  was  thirty  to  sixty 
bushels  to  the  acre,  and  the  up-prairie  land  appeared  equally 
as  fertile.  The  nights  being  always  cool,  this  is  not  a  good 
corn  country. 

Following  this  creek  for  eleven  miles,  it  changed  its  course 
to  the  north,  while  the  road  and  old  Indian  and  pack  trails  left 
it  by  winding  up  a  hill  700  or  800  feet  high,  thence  over  a 
level  prairie  for  a  mile,  when  I  looked  down  into  a  Canyon 
(Tu-Canyon)  1200  to  1500  feet  deep,  having  a  stream  with 
wooded  bottom,  a  few  hundred  yards  wide.  The  wood  on 
these  streams  is  mostly  cotton-wood,  birch,  alder  and  pine. 

A  few  spots  on  this  stream  were  being  farmed  for  hay,  by 
men  with  stock,  as  a  safe  winter  retreat. 

Crossing  this  Canyon,  I  found,  spread  out  as  far  as  I  could 
see,  another  similar  vast  rolling  fertile  prairie  country,  with 
richer  hollows,  coves  or  bottoms,  and  blessed  with  an  occasion- 
al spring  or  stream  of  good  water;  but  wood  still  to  be  seen  only 
in  the  one  direction — many  miles  away  to  the  south.  After 
about  eight  miles  of  unbroken  prairie,  I  found  the  hollows  and 
choice  spots  by  the  road  settled,  and  more  or  less  farmed, 
according  to  the  time,  means  and  energy  of  the  settler  in  haul- 
ing fencing  and  other  wood,  fifteen  to  twenty  miles — there 
being  no  barbed  wire  then. 

On  approaching  Walla  Walla,  the  country  was  more 
thickly  settled  and  improved,  there  being  streams  Avith  more 
extensive  bottoms,  bordered  by  less  abrupt  hills,  and  Avooded 
sufficient  for  immediate  fencing  and  domestic  use.  Though 
much  of  the  soil  along  these  streams  was  not  as  productive  as 
that  of  the  hollows,  or  even  the  extreme  upland  j^rairies,  until 
made  so  by  irrigation. 

Near  Walla  Walla  the  lay  of  the  land  becomes  less  broken 
by  ravines ;  but  to  speak  of  this  Walla  Walla  country  as  a 


110  The  Walla  Walla  Country. 

valley,  is  misleading.  The  stream  Walla  Walla  has  a  little 
narrow  valley  to  be  sure,  but  it  don't  amount  to  much,  except 
in  rare  spots.  The  same  is  true  of  even  the  Columbia,  Snake 
and  other  rivers  at  a  distance  from  the  coast.  They  might 
have  had  broad  fertile  valleys  or  bottoms,  like  the  Sacramento, 
Mississippi,  Ohio  and  the  Mohawk,  but  they  hav'nt.  I  mean 
to  give  a  true  and  comprehensive,  though  brief  description  of 
Eastern  Washington,  and  the  settling  thereof,  such  as  may 
also  give  an  accurate  idea  of  that  north  of  the  Columbia  and 
Snake,  as  well  as  of  that  portion  of  Idaho  adjoining,  as  these 
sections  are  similar.  With  their  fertile  soil,  each  has  its  deeply 
embedded  streams,  narrow  vales  and  ravines,  steep  and  long 
hills  and  sections  of  rocky  waste  land,  or  suited  only  for  graz- 
ing. Each  having  its  mountain  range,  for  timber  and  wood 
supply,  to  tap  the  rain  clouds  and  giving  variety  of  climate 
and  scenery. 

Singular  though  it  may  seem,  during  the  most  severe 
winters  the  mercury  sinks  lowest  in  the  lowest  altitudes,  and 
snow  falls  there  quite  as  deep  at  such  times  as  elsewhere. 
Stock  have  wintered  with  less  loss  in  hard  %/inters,  on  some 
opening  back  in  the  mountains,  than  others  on  the  Columbia 
and  Snake  rivers.  The  best  lands  are  usually  found  near  the 
mountain  ranges,  and  the  lighter,  dryer  and  poorer  soil  as  the 
Columbia  and  Snake  rivers  are  approached,  though  irrigation 
would,  and  sometimes  does,  where  practicable,  make  this  the 
best,  and  the  springs  are  a  month  or  more  earlier  here  than  at 
the  higher  altitudes,  and  less  snow  usually  falls.  But  it  gets 
ten  to  fifteen  degrees  hotter  than  on  the  upland  prairies ;  it 
being  sometimes  one  hundred  degrees  and  more.  And  it  is 
covered  with  a  bank  of  cold  fog  for  several  weeks  in  the  winter, 
while  the  sun  is  shining  bright  and  warm  on  the  high  prairies. 

Every  four  or  five  years  there  is  a  hard  winter,  when  the 
mercury  sinks  to  twenty  or  thirty  degrees  below  zero  for  a  few 
weeks.  But  where  there  is  an  open  range  that  has  not  been 
over-stocked,  horses  that  are  not  worked  will  winter  all  right 
without  feeding ;  and  cattle  need  to  be  fed  but  a  month  or  two, 
and  some  winters  not  any. 

The  warm  trade  or  "chinook"  winds  from  the  South- 
Pacific  are  a  great  blessing  to  this  country  in  winter ;  they 


Locate  a  Land  Claim  and  get  Married.  Ill 

come  with  black  clouds — as  a  thunder  shower  comes,  and 
sometimes  bare  the  ground  of  a  foot  of  snow  in  a  day  or  night; 
but  they  cannot  be  counted  on.  The  winter  winds  from  the 
opposite  direction  are  stinging  cold. 

I  continued  my  journey  from  Lewiston  for  about  sixty 
miles,  to  near  where  Dayton  was  afterwards  built  and  become 
the  county  seat  of  a  new  county  (Columbia),  composed  of  a 
part  of  Walla  Walla  county,  which  before  embraced  all  the 
region  between  the  Columbia  and  Snake  rivers  and  the  Oregon 
line.  Since,  Garfield  and  Asotin  counties  have  been  formed 
out  of  Columbia.  Dayton  is  on  the  Tou-Chet  (Tii-she)  stream, 
and  this  section  was  then  known  as  the  "Upper  Tou-Chet." 

I  hired  to  work  for  a  farmer  for  two  months,  at  $35.00  a 
month. — This  was  the  first  and  only  good  farming  country  I  had 
seen  since  leaving  Eastern  Nebraska,  over  four  years  before, 
except  that  in  Salt  Lake  valley  and  in  Southern  California. 

Here  I  found  improved  farms  with  orchards,  barns,  colts, 
calves,  lambs,  geese,  chickens,  women,  children  and  girls  in 
their  teens,  with  an  occasional  buggy  or  side-saddle  to  be  seen. 
So  considering  me  having  been  raised  on  a  farm  and  at  home, 
and  then  having  been  for  about  five  years  roving  about  — a 
homeless  wanderer,  in  wild,  unsettled  desert  regions,  unblessed 
with  the  innocent  prattle  of  children  or  the  voice  of  women — 
is  it  any  wonder  that  having  become  tired  of  such  a  life,  I  was 
impressed,  as  the  plains-tired  traveller  is  on  reaching  Salt 
Lake  and  Los  Angeles,  with  their  fruitful  trees  and  vines,  mead- 
ows, flowers,  singing  birds  and  flowing  streams,  and  as 
Mohammed  was  when  he  beheld  Damascus  and  exclaimed,  that 
"man  can  enter  but  *ne  paradise." 

I  worked  with  a  threshing  machine,  as  it  changed  about 
for  the  man  I  hired  to,  for  a  couple  of  weeks,  and  was  impressed 
with  the  bountiful  yield  of  grain,  the  ground  being  new  and 
only  the  choice  spots  in  cultivation.  I  then  put  in  the  most  of 
the  remainder  of  the  two  months  in  hauling  rails  and  wood 
from  the  mountain  for  him. 

My  employer  was  related  to  one  who  had  recently  been  a 
Government  Indian  agent,  and  himself  had  been  engaged  at  an 
agency  and  military  post ;  and  I  having  before  and  since  be- 
come intimately  acquainted  with  Government  contractors,  etc., 


112  The  Walla  Walla  Countky. 

and  also  with  intelligent  agency  Indians  (one  of  wliom  wrote 
for  me  the  story  of  his  life,  which  I  may  give),  together  with 
my  personal  observations,  enabled  me  to  become  informed  con- 
cerning affairs  at  such  places  and  the  mode  by  which  ring 
favorites  get  fortunes  and  outsiders  are  crushed  in  dealing  with 
Government  secret  ring  agents  or  officers.  I  will  give  a  few 
points  for  the  information  of  those  who  are  curious  to  know 
how  it  is,  that  one  man  can  take  a  Government  contract  for 
supplies  and  make  money  out  of  it,  while  his  neighbor,  possess- 
ing superior  business  abilities,  would  lose  money. 

For  example,  will  consider  the  grain,  hay,  wood  and  horse 
supply.  The  allowance  of  these,  as  with  other  supplies  also, 
is  usually  greater  than  is  necessary  for  the  service.  Proposals 
are  duly  advertised  for  a  certain  quantity  or  amount  of  either, 
(it  being  the  full  amount  allowed  or  to  be  suffered  for  a  certain 
time),  the  same  to  be  of  "the  best  quality,"  or  "per  sample," 
and  to  be  delivered  by  or  during  a  stated  time,  or  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  Grand  Master,  as  the  case  may  be.  Now  this 
time  may  be  while  the  roads  are  almost  impassable,  and  while 
the  outsider  will  be  required  to  fulfill  the  contract  to  the  exact 
letter,  the  secret  brother,  who  can  be  relied  on  as  to  "  division 
and  secrecy,"  under  the  obligations  and  penalties  of  the  ring, 
knows  that  the  time  will  be  modified  to  suit  his  (their)  inter- 
ests, and  that  the  quantity,  with  him,  need  only  be  such  as  is 
barely  necessary  for  the  service ;  though  the  full  amount  allow- 
ed is  receipted,  booked  and  paid  for.  Thus  are  favorite  con- 
tractors and  their  gangs  enriched  by  government  and  corpora- 
tion contracts,  even  when  the  figures  are  heloiv  the  market  2)yice. 

In  the  West  but  comparatively  little  forage  is  necessary  or 
really  used,  as  the  stock  usually  runs  out  to  grass  on  the  ranges 
all  the  year.  In  buying  horses  and  mules,  none  but  those  fully 
up  to  the  standard  will  be  received  from  a  full-fledged  citizen 
of  the  Government,  while  from  some  one  who  is  a  sworn  subject 
of  a  lurking,  foreign,  pagan-government,  most  anything  in  horse 
or  mule  shape  is  often  taken. 

I  have  known  several  men  who  were  badly  bitten  by  count- 
ing on  some  of  the  concessions  always  accorded  to  secret  sub- 
jects. The  difference  in  the  cost  between  a  favorite  and  out- 
sider in  filling  a  contract  is  often  twenty-five  to  fifty  per  cent. 


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Hi  The  W.\lla  Walla  Country. 

An  example  giveu  me  b}'  the  party  who  furnished  the  wood, 
and  who  had  occasion  to  procure  full  proof  of  the  following  ex- 
amples of  loyalty :  For  the  post,  and  the  year  alluded  to,  the 
Government  allowed  and  paid  for  575  cords  of  wood,  at  $5.50 
per  cord,  equal  to  §3,162.50 ;  while  all  that  was  really  bought 
or  paid  for  was  350  cords,  at  S2.50  per  cord,  equal  to  $875.00. 
What  per  cent,  of  loyalty  is  that  ? 

They  also  received  from  the  Government,  that  is  not  good 
enough  for  them,  pay  for  500  rations  at  a  time,  supposed  to  be 
issued  to  the  Indians,  when  the  highest  number  was  really  but 
forty-five,  and  this  of  condemned  stores.  What  per  cent,  of 
loyalty  is  this  ? 

Now  take  the  annual  appropriations  of  Congress,  and  see 
what  SAvorn  secrecy-under-horrible-penalties  in  office  is  costing 
Uncle  Sam  in  money  alone  ! 

My  informant  as  to  these  mere  examples,  said,  he  reported 
these  facts,  with  the  indisputable  proof  thereof,  to  two  city 
editors,  but  the}',  being  subjects  of  the  same  secret  government, 
would  not  publish  them.  That  he  also  reported  the  same  to 
the  Government  at  Washington,  to  find  that  the  influence  of 
their  secret  government  extended  there  also  and  was  supreme. 

And  jobs  were  put  up  against  his  life,  and  the  courts  were 
prostituted  to  get  him  out  of  the  way,  so  he  could  not  make 
any  more  trouble  with  their  "  mysteries." 

When  extra  transportation  and  supplies  are  required,  as  in 
case  of  an  Indian  outbreak — which  is  often  purposely  induced  by 
the  lurking  subjects  themselves — they  get  contracts  to  supply 
it  at  fourteen  prices,  and  then  sub-let  it  to  others,  who  do  the 
work  and  furnish  the  supplies  for  small  pay. 

After  a  gang  has  made  such  a  raid  against  the  Government 
in  the  name  of  the  Indians,  and  has  the  plunder  divided  up  and 
secured,  then  a  few  journals,  as  a  cloak  for  their  servility,  come 
out  of  the  dark  as  follows,  but  they  dare  not  strike  at  the  root 
and  secrecy  of  the  evil;  and  they  are  brazen  in  the  assumption, 
that  the  officials  at  Washington  do  not  know  the  "  true  inward- 
ness "  of  these  jobs  in  advance,  if ter  forty  years'  experience  u'ith 
the  same  game. 

"The  Government  has  finally  begun  to  see  the  Hrue  inward- 
ness '  of  the  Arizona  '  Indian  war,'  and  peace  may  be  looked  for 


Locate  a  Land  Claim  and  get  Married.         115 

now  any  day.  Not  a  solitary  Indian  was  killed,  not  a  single 
pioneer,  miner,  or  any  other  man  who  minded  his  own  business, 
was  molested,  but  several  enterprising  [?]  men  made  a  million,  or 
so,  a  piece,  out  of  the  scare  ;  and  it  was  started  for  no  other  pnr- 
pose.  Crook  broke  the  Apaches'  backbone  years  ago;  the  poor 
wretches  haven't  vim  enough  left  to  fight  a  coyote." 

When  my  two  months'  job  expired,  the  most  profitable 
work  I  had  learned  of  was  that  of  making  rails  and  clap-boards 
in  the  mountain  for  the- farmers  living  out  on  the  streams  and 
hollows.  Eails  were  worth  twenty  dollars,  and  clap-boards 
fifteen  dollars  per  thousand  at  the  stump,  and  the  timber  — 
tamerack,  fir  and  pine— split  well. 

There  was  a  small  company  of  men  thus  engaged,  who 
tried  to  discourage  me,  saying,  that  on  account  of  the  scarcity 
of  money  there  was  only  a  small  cash  demand  for  such  work. 
I,  however,  found  that  it  could  be  readily  traded  for  stock, 
especially  horses,  which  was  good  enough  pay  for  me.  So  I 
bought  an  outfit  and  six  months'  supply  of  grub  and  went  to 
work  in  the  timber,  where  I  split  my  first  rail  and  clap-board. 
Shingles  were  also  being  made  there,  by  hand,  at  four  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  per  thousand. 

I  worked  here  the  most  of  the  ensuing  ten  months,  and 
though  not  very  rugged,  and  unable  to  do  as  much  hard  work 
as  other  men,  I  made  8000  rails  and  55,000  clap-boards,  which 
was  more,  than  was  done  by  any  other  man  about  me  or  whom 
I  knew  of,  though  to  hear  many  of  them  talk,  they  could  do 
and  did  more  work  in  one  day,  than  I  could  in  three ;  and  may 
be  they  could,  but,  somehow,  they  had  not  much  to  show  in  re- 
sults for  their  superior  ability,  and  those  who  had  farms  had 
poor  fences,  and  their  shelter  was  like  that  noted  in  song  by 
the  "Arkansan  traveller."  I  cleared  by  that  ten  months'  work 
eight  hundred  dollars  worth  of  horses  and  other  property,  and 
had  spent  more  in  living  than  any  of  them.  Besides  this,  I 
meanwhile  located  a  land  claim  on  the  prairie,  fourteen  miles 
away,  and  built  on  it  a  twelve  by  fourteen  feet  lumber  cabin, 
which  claim  I  sold  for  a  hundred  dollar  mule  and  fifty  dollars. 
Had  also  spent  many  pleasant  Sundays  and  other  days  with 
hospitable  farmer  friends  living  in  the  valleys,  and  in  riding 


116  The  Walla.  Walla  Country. 

over  the  prairies  and  iu  shaded  vales  iu  yet  more  congenial 
company. 

I  kept  a  saddle  horse  with  me  in  summer,  and  as  I  put  on 
a  clean  shirt  once  in  a  while,  rode  about  more  than  my  timber 
companions;  did  not  boast  of  fabulous  amounts  of  work  that  I 
had  not  and  could  not  do,  or  even  what  I  did,  and  asked  so 
many  fool  questions  in  friendly  satire,  and  as  though  I  hardly 
knew  what  timber,  laud,  and  work  really  was  ;  was  therefore 
looked  upon  by  some  of  the  innocent  settlers  with  an  air  of  sus- 
picion, or  of  ridicule,  that  was  amusing  in  its  crude  simplicity 
in  judging  human  character. 

Having  been  out  and  about  in  company  with  a  timber  com- 
panion, he  came  to  me  one  day  in  great  trouble  and  vexation  of 
spirit,  saying  there  was  a  "  terrible  story  out  about  us."  "Why  !" 
says  he,  "  they  take  me  for  a  Mghivayman  and  call  you  the  gentle- 
man rail-maker,"  and  he  felt  that  we  were  fatally  slandered  and 
should  weep  and  wail,  or  else  curse  and  fight  together  in 
putting  the  stigma  down. 

Once  I  had  4000  clap-boards  to  make  in  a  trade  for  a 
horse,  when  one  of  the  boys  told  me  that  it  would  please  my 
customer  to  make  them  very  thick  ;  so  I  made  them  very  thick. 
Then  he  reported  to  him  that  I  "had  made  a  lot  of  wide  staves 
for  him,  instead  of  thin  clap-boards,  the  kind  he  wanted."  So 
he  spent  a  day  in  coming  to  see  about  it,  but  was  satisfied 
when  I  promised  to  suit  him  entirely ;  which  I  did  by  simply 
splitting  each  one  into  two  in  a  little  while,  which  he  himself 
could  have  done  at  home,  making  twenty  dollars  a  day  in  doing 
it.  While  I  afforded  some  amusement  to  my  generous  com- 
panions in  toil,  I  (being  incompetent,  an  orphan  and  stranger 
in  a  strange  land) — was  also  a  subject  of  anxiety  and  care  to 
some,  who  kindly  made  my  business  and  social  genial  welfare 
their  ardent  concern.     This  brings  my  story  to  the  fall  of  1871. 

The  prospect  of  the  early  building  of  the  N.  P.  railroad 
had  waned,  as  it  Avas  not  to  be  built  until  other  railroads  were 
built  without  any  subsidy  and  the  country  was  settled  up,  so 
it  would  be  a  paying  investment  at  once ;  thus  having  the  great 
land  grant  as  a  clear  gift,  if,  through  secret  intrigue  with 
brethren  in  office,  they  could  hold  it  against  the  law. 

Fire   had  destroyed  the   manufacturing  business   of  my 


(117) 


118  The  Walla  Walla  Country. 

father,  and  he  and  my  mother  had  died,  so  the  scenes  of  my 
boyhood,  thus  saddened,  had  less  attraction  for  me  than  when  I 
left  them;  and  finding  here  apparently  as  favorable  an  opportun- 
ity to  settle  down  and  prosper,  as  would  be  afforded  elsewhere, 
I  concluded  to  remain,  get  married,  make  as  good  a  home  as  I 
was  able  to  carve  out  of  the  wilderness,  and  grow  up  -with  the 
country. 

Was  married  the  same  fall,  a  year  after  my  arrival  in  the 
country. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  brief  description  of  Eastern  and  Western  Washington,  and  of  the 
various  sections  in  each. — Their  industries  and  inducements. — Their 
advantages  and  their  disadvantages. 

Washington  is  the  most  north-western  territory,  or  state, 
belonging  to  the  Union,  with  the  exception  of  Alaska.  It  lies 
about  ten  degrees  north  of  Washington  City,  D.  C.  Yet  the 
eastern  part  is  not  as  cold  in  winter  as  New  Jersey,  the  ground 
seldom  being  frozen  as  much  as  six  inches  deep  ;  and  the  west- 
ern part  is  not  as  cold  in  winter  as  it  is  at  Washington  City  on 
the  Potomac,  and  it  is  more  healthy. 

Irrigation  is  not  absolutely  necessary  anywhere  in  the 
state,  to  raise  crops ;  but  some  sections  in  the  eastern  part  get 
very  dry  and  very  dusty,  and  most  anywhere  more  or  less  irri- 
gation is,  or  would  be,  if  water  was  accessible,  very  beneficial, 
and  so  it  would  be  in  the  states.  Though  it  rains  more  in 
summer  in  the  states,  than  it  does  here,  or  anywhere  else  on 
this  coast.  But  the  soil  is  such  that  in  unusual  dry  seasons 
half  a  crop  is  raised  without  any  rain  or  irrigation. 

The  state,  as  a  whole,  is  separated  into  two  natural 
divisions,  known  as  Western  and  Eastern  Washington,  the 
Cascade  range  of  mountains  intervening.  It  contains,  besides 
the  mountainous  regions,  which  are  covered  with  timber  and 
wood,  nearly  50,000  square  miles  of  pasture  and  agricultural 
lands.  About  four-sevenths  of  these  are  classified  as  timbered, 
two-sevenths  as  bunch-grass  prairie,  and  one-seventh  as  alluvial 
bottom  lands.  Over  half  of  the  timbered  and  nearly  all  the 
bottom  lands  lie  in  the  western  section  ;  while  the  bunch-grass 
prairie  lands  are  all  in  the  eastern  part. 

The  annual  rainfall  in  Western  Washington  is  about 
seventy  inches,  and  in  Eastern  Washington  about  thirty  inches. 

Extending  far  inland  from  the  Pacific  ocean  into  Western 
Washington  is  Puget  Sound.  Although  sufficiently  narrow  to 
admit  of  both  shores  being  seen  at  the  same  time,  it  is  in  all 
parts  of  sufficient  depth  to  accommodate  the  largest  ocean- 
going steamers,  and  in  places  it  is  a  hundred  fathoms  deep.     It 

(119' 


120  Eastern  and  Western  "Wasuington. 

has  a  shore  line  about  sixteen  hnndred  miles  in  length,  and  in- 
cludes a  series  of  laud-locked  harbors,  in  which  the  "  navies  of 
the  world  "  might  anchor  in  safety.  Emptying  into  it  on  every 
side  are  numerous  streams,  some  of  which  are  navigable  for 
many  miles  into  the  interior.  The  bottoms  of  these  streams 
are  very  fertile,  and  some  are  spacious,  nor  are  they  unhealthy, 
as  is  so  usual  in  the  states.  These,  as  well  as  the  bottoms  on 
the  streams  that  empty  into  Grays  Harbor,  Shoal  Water  Bay 
and  the  lower  Columbia  river,  are  the  best  tame-grass  sections 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  if  not  in  the  United  States.  These  bottoms 
are  from,  say,  one  to  six  miles  wide,  and  fifteen  or  twenty  of 
these  streams  are  navigable— the  Chehalis  for  sixty  miles  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year. 

But  these  bottoms  are  mostly  covered  with  a  dense  growth 
of  brush,  vine-maple,  alder,  cedar,  spruce  and  other  timber. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  Western  Washington  is  covered  with 
a  dense  forest,  composed  of  fir,  cedar,  spruce,  with  some  oak, 
vine  and  curley  maple,  alder  and  other  vegetation,  belonging 
to  a  warm,  humid  climate.  Between  the  Sound  and  the  ocean 
are  the  Olympic  mountains,  with  snow-capped  peaks  ;  and 
between  it  and  the  ocean  is  the  best  unsettled  section  of  country 
that  I  know  of  at  this  time  (1889).  Mount  Rainier,  or  Tacoma, 
in  the  Cascade  range,  is  near  15,000  feet  high,  and  its  top  is 
always  white  with  snow.  The  "  Sound  Country  "  has  numerous 
thriving  towns,  Seattle,  Tacoma,  Port  Townsend  and  Olympia 
being  the  largest.  The  country  bordering  upon  the  Sound  and 
extending  back  to  the  mountains,  is  rich  in  coal  and  lumber, 
and  the  soil,  when  cleared,  is  more  or  less  productive  for  hay, 
grain  and  vegetables,  also  fruits  and  berries.  There  are  sections 
that  are  most  excellent  for  apples,  pears  and  plums.  Coal  is 
shipped  in  large  quantities  to  San  Francisco.  There  is  quite 
a  variety  of  fish  in  the  Sound,  and  they  are  abundant ;  and  so 
are  clams  on  the  beach. 

Cedar  trees  are  frequently  200  feet  in  height,  and  firs  some- 
times 300  feet,  and  100  feet  to  the  first  limb.  Spars  and  other 
rare  ship  timbers  are  conveyed  from  Puget  Sound  to  all  parts 
of  the  world.  Common  lumber  is  shipped  principally  to  Cali- 
fornia, Central  and  South  America,  Australia  and  the  Sandwich 
Islands.     It  is  a  great  lumber  region,  if  not  the  greatest  in  the 


Eastern  and  Western  Washington.  121 

world.  Some  of  the  mills  cut  about  500,000  feet  a  clay,  each. — 
The  Sound  hawks  will  ride  on  hogs'  backs  while  they  root 
up  clams  on  the  beach,  then  snatching  one  will  fly  high  in  the 
air,  and  directly  over  some  rocky  spot,  letting  the  clam  drop, 
to  break  it  open. 

The  climate  of  Western  Washington  is  warm  and  wet,  the 
average  winter  temperature  being  about  thirty-three  degrees 
above  zero,  with  lots  of  rain.  During  the  summer  season  it 
rains  less  and  the  temperature  is  milder,  but  the  climate  is 
quite  even  the  year  round.  Flowers  are  often  seen  blooming 
in  the  gardens  in  the  midst  of  winter.  The  scenery  is  grand, 
especially  in  summer  when  the  air  is  free  of  fog  and  smoke. 

Eastern  Washington  is  as  different  from  Western  Washing- 
ton as  one  country  could  well  be  from  another.  Generally 
speaking,  it  is  an  open,  or  timberless  region,  and  is  therefore 
chiefly  useful  as  a  farming  and  grazing  country.  Its  chief 
rivers  are  the  Columbia  and  Snake,  which  have  their  junction 
near  the  center  of  the  state.  Besides  these  rivers  are  numerous 
smaller  streams,  that  have  their  sources  in  the  mountain  ranges 
—  some  of  them  flowing  eastward  from  the  Cascades,  some  from 
the  Blue  mountains,  which  lie  to  the  south-east,  and  some  from 
the  Coeur  d'Alene  mountains  in  northern  Idaho.  These 
streams,  with  the  exception  of  the  Columbia  and  Snake,  are 
more  or  less  wooded.  They  are  all  more  or  less  deeply  im- 
bedded below  the  farming  country,  the  upper  portions  being 
deep  canyons.  The  Columbia  and  Snake  are  bordered  with 
sand  and  gravel,  and  rocky  bluffs  ;  the  small  streams  with  rich 
alluvial  bottoms  and  rocky  bluffs. 

Taking  one's  position  upon  some  elevated  point,  and  look- 
ing over  this  vast  region  of  Eastern  Washington,  the  general 
appearance  is  that  of  an  endless  contiguity  of  grass-covered, 
gently  waving  hills.  Thus  viewed  at  a  distance,  the  color  of 
the  landscape  is  that  of  a  dull  gray.  The  scene  is  monotonous; 
grand,  but  not  beautiful,  and  it  makes  one  feel  lonesome. 
These  timberless  hills  are  covered  with  bunch-grass  or  grain. 
This  grass  and  a  mild,  dry  climate,  made  Eastern  Washington, 
Eastern  Oregon  and  Idaho  a  good  stock  country.  Passing 
through  the  country,  especially  through  the  settled  portions, 
the  scene  is  .more  interesting,  as  it  has  lost  its  sameness  and 


122  Eastern  and  Western  Washington. 

gained  in  variety.  Nestled  in  among  these  timberless  liills  and 
jflats,  on  one  stream  or  another,  are  towns  and  villages,  and 
cities  of  non-producers ;  they  are  about  one  quarter  of  the 
population  of  the  country  ;  are  organized  into  secret  charitable 
(?)  gangs,  and  thrive  by  ruling  and  filching  the  producer, 
home-builder  and  immigrants — they  earn  almost  nothing,  but 
steal  almost  everything — the  courts  being  in  their  control. 
They  are  to  the  people,  what  the  English  and  German  trader 
is  to  the  natives  of  countries  they  have  conquered. 

"For  knaves  to  thrive  on — mysterious  enough: 
Dark,  tangled  doctrines,  dark  as  fraud  can  weave." 

"  They  linked  their  souls 

By  a  dark  oath  in  hell's  own  language  framed." 

These  towns  and  villages  are  surrounded  with  fertile  and 
productive  farms.  The  soil  is  generally  a  rich,  ashy  loam, 
which  is  easily  plowed  and  cultivated,  and  grain,  vegetable  and 
fruit  are  produced  with  much  less  labor,  than  in  most  other 
countries.  But  for  the  reasons  heretofore  and  hereafter  given, 
over  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  farms  are  mortgaged,  and  the  whole 
country  is  held  under  tribute  that  would  make  the  Egyptian, 
the  Hottentot,  the  Sepoy,  or  the  Chinaman  rebel  in  his  own 
country.  Therefore,  farms  can  be  bought  cheap.  "  ExCept  the 
virtuous,  men  ought  to  he  slaves,  because  they  are  either  Avicked 
themselves,  or  are  ready  to  crouch  before  the  wicked.  A 
feeble  herd,  happy  to  crouch  to  a  master." 

Eastern  Washington  is  divided  up  into  numerous  large  or 
small  districts  or  sections,  usually  bearing  names  which  they 
have  derived  from  streams  passing  through  them.  The 
oldest  of  these  is  the  Walla  Walla  country,  which  surrounds  a 
city  of  the  same  name.  North  of  this — across  the  Snake  river 
— is  the  Palouse  country,  the  Spokane  country,  and  the  Big 
Bend  countr}-,  all  lying  east  and  south  of  the  Columbia  river, 
and  west  of  Idaho. 

West  of  the  Columbia  river  and  east  of  the  Cascade 
mountain  is  embraced  the  remainder  of  Eastern  Washington. 
This  region  is  divided  into  two  large  districts,  known  as  the 
Klickitat  country  and  the  Yakima  country. 

"The  Yakima  country  lies  north  of  the  Klickitat,  and  in- 
cludes an  area  of  nearly  ten  thousand  square  miles.  .  The  western 


Eastern  and  Western  Washington.  123 

boundary  being  the  Cascade  range  of  mountains.  The  Yakima 
country  is  penetrated  from  that  direction  by  numerous  long  spurs 
which  trend  eastward  in  the  direction  of  the  Columbia.  Between 
these  long  hills  or  spurs  are  numerous  fertile  valleys.  By  some 
freak  of  nature  the  Yakima  river,  which  runs  southward  and 
eastward,  cuts  through  these  long  hills  at  nearly  right  angles,  and 
in  this  way  crosses  the  several  valleys  comprising  the  Yakima 
country.  The  first,  and  one  of  the  largest  of  these  valleys 
through  which  the  river  passes,  after  it  flows  from  the  Cascade 
mountains,  is  the  Kittitas  valley,  which  is  the  centre  of  a  county, 
with  Ellensburg  as  the  county  seat.  Fifteen  to  twenty  miles  to 
the  north  of  Ellensburg  is  an  extensive  coal  region,  perhaps  the 
best  in  the  state.  And  to  the  north  of  this  are  gold,  silver  and 
other  mines.  Further  down  the  river,  from  Ellensburg,  south 
and  east  of  Kittitas,  are  numerous  smaller  valleys,  including  the 
Wenas,  Selah,  Natcheez  and  the  Ahtanum.  In  the  latter  valley, 
at  the  junction  of  a  little  stream,  known  as  Ahtanum,  with  the 
Yakima  river,  is  the  town  of  Yakima.  Opposite  this  town  (being 
like  an  extension  of  the  Ahtanum  valley)  is  a  level,  fertile  tract  of 
country  known  as  the  Moxee.  Immediately  south  of  town,  the 
river'  cuts  throuth  another  of  the  long  hills  above  mentioned,  and 
enters  another  valley,  the  greater  portion  of  which  unfortunately 
is  included  within  the  Yakima  Indian  reservation.  This  is  the 
finest  valley  or  tract  of  land  in  Eastern  Washington,  and  if  it  was 
available  for  settlement,  would  be  one  of  the  most  ]3roductive  [for 
tribute]  sections  in  the  West.  [Of  course]  an  effort  is  being  made 
to  acquire  such  portion  of  it  as  the  Indians  do  not  need  [?j  for 
their  own  use  [?],  and  if  the  movement  is  successful,  Yakima  City 
wiU  at  once  become  an  important  inland  city." 

[There  are  also  other  people  who  have  more  land  (that  they 
have  s/ofe/*),  and  also  more  money  (that  they  have  stolen)  **than 
they  need  for  their  own  use."  Why  not  take  or  rather  recover 
these  fii-st?] 

"  Opposite  this  reservation  is  an  immense  country.  From  the 
Yakima  river  it  slopes  back  and  rises  gently  until  it  reaches  the 
summit  of  a  long  range  of  hills,  and  then  the  slope  is  in  the 
opposite  direction  and  toward  the  Columbia.  The  general  name 
given  to  it  is  Sunnyside.  Below  the  reservation  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Yakima  river  from  Sunnyside,  is  a  somewhat 
similar  tract  of  country  known  as  ''Horse  Heaven.''  It  being  a 
good  range  and  largely  occupied  by  horses.    The  Cascade  branch  of 


124  Eastern  and  Western  Washington. 

the  Northern  Pacific  railroad  is  constructed  up  the  Yakima  river, 
and,  like  the  stream  itself,  passes  through  the  numerous  valleys. 
This  section  yields  large  crops  of  grain,  hay,  hops,  vegetables  and 
fruits,  also  tobacco,  flax,  broom-corn  and  sugar-cane.  It  has  a 
mild  climate  and  fertile  soil." 

The  Palouse,  the  Spokane  and  the  Colville  countries  are, 
in  one  way  and  another,  equal  to  the  Yakima.  The  Palouse 
will  produc3  much  more  grain,  but  less  fruit,  and  so  will  the 
Spokane.  And  the  Colville  country  is  quite  rich  in  lead  and 
silver,  with  some  gold,  and  has  much  fertile  soil,  with  a  superior 
stock  range. 

But  the  Walla  Walla  country  is  naturally  the  best  of  all 
the  sections,  it  being  hardly  surpassed  anywhere  in  the  world 
as  a  general  farming  and  fruit  country. 

In  the  foothills  of  the  Blue  mountains  the  soil  was  equal 
to  the  virgin  soil  of  Illinois,  and  the  climate  generally  much 
more  congenial  in  winter.  About  six  weeks  is  the  average 
time  that  the  ground  is  too  much  frozen  to  plow.  '  It  catches 
more  of  the  warm  chinook  winds  than  any  other  section. 

Apple  and  peach  trees  bear  in  three  years  from  the  seed, 
and  there  are  localities  where  corn,  melons,  tomatoes  and  other 
vines  grow  and  bear  in  great  abundance. 

The  Umatilla  section  in  Eastern  Oregon  is  considered  as 
belonging  to  the  Walla  Walla  country.  The  Grand  Ronde 
valley,  in  the  Blue  mountains  in  Eastern  Oregon,  will  compare 
favorably  to  the  Palouse  country  in  Washington.  And  the 
Boise  country  in  Idaho  is  similar  to  the  Yakima  in  its  climate, 
soil  and  productions. 

Western  Oregon  is  very  similar,  though  larger  and 
superior  to  Western  Washington  as  a  farming  country.  But 
it  is  older,  and  its  timber  and  mineral  resources  are  not  as 
great  as  those  of  Western  Washington. 

Oregon  originally  embraced  the  whole  region  from  California 
Nevada  and  Utah  to  Alaska,  and  from  the  Pacific  ocean  to  the 
Bocky  mountains,  and  the  Columbia  river  was  named  "  Oregon." 

The  water  may  be  said  to  be  universally  good  throughout 
the  whole  Northwest. 

'*  Where  rolls  the  Oregon,  and  hears  no  sound, 
Save  his  own  dashings." 


MuLTNOMA  Falls,  Columbia  riveii,  Oiiegon. 


(125) 


CHAPTER   X. 

History  of  settling  of  the  Walla  Walla  country. — Keport  of  Government 
experts,  as  to  the  soil. — Packing  to  the  mines  of  Idaho. — The  market 
and  opijortiinities. — The  outlook  in  1870,  when  I  landed  here. — The 
country  grasped  by  its  throat  ;  the  Government  prostituted — 1000 
miles  of  river  navigation  to  the  sea  strangled,  and  the  tribute  that 
was  levied. — The  result. — The  j)romised  railroad. — First  land  claim 
I  located. — Life  in  the  beginning  of  a  home. — Dangers  and  drawbacks. 
— My  first  outfit. — Sell  my  claim. — Hunt  for  and  locate  another  in  a 
new  wild  section. ^Description  of  it  and  the  locality. — My  Indian 
neighbors;  how  they  treated  the  first  white  men  they  ever  saw. — A 
homebuilder's  land  rights,  and  what  he  must  necessarily  endiire. — 
Warned  of  the  perplexities,  consiDiracies  and  treason  to  be  jslanted  in 
the  way. — How  we  started  out  to  build  a  good  and  spacious  home. — 
Our  house,  etc. — Travelling,  moving  and  cam^jing  in  the  West.— 25 
miles  to  blacksmith  shop,  etc. — The  "Egypt  "for  suijjjlies. — Land 
claims  located  about  us  and  abandoned,  are  re-located  by  others 
time  and  again. — My  first  crop. — Crickets  one  hundred  bushels  to 
the  acre. — So  that  we  are  left  alone  in  the  "France  Settlement."' — 
The  section  surveyed  and  I  "file  my  claim." — Kaise  hogs. — The 
result. — Get  a  band  of  cattle.— Experience  on  the  range. — Getting 
roads  opened. — First  railroad  in  Eastern  Washington.— Strugglmg 
for  a  livelihood  and  home. — Howl  managed. — Other  new  settlements 
and  people. — How  they  did. — "Land  hunters." — Prove  up,  jjay  for 
and  get  jaatent  for  pre-emption  claim,  and  take  a  homestead  claim  ad- 
joining.— Copy  of  U.  S.  patent. — How  we  just  loped  along  and  ahead 
of  the  country. — It  settles  up. — New  County  ;  towns,  etc.,  built. — 
Settlers  swindled. —Build  school-house,  etc.,  etc. 

1  HE  first  settlements  in  the  Columbia  and  Snake  river  basin 
were  at,  or  near  Fort  "Walla  "Walla- afterwards  the  town  of 
"Walla  Walla ;  and  then  on  the  through-road  and  pack-trails 
leading  from  Fort  Walhda — on  the  Columbia  river— to  Walla- 
Walla,  and  thence  easterly— by  the  way  of  Lewiston — to  the 
mining  camps  and  military  posts  in  Idaho. 

The  ferryage  for  crossing  Snake  river  at  Lewiston  was  six 
dollars  for  wagon  and  single  team,  and  one  dollar  each  for  rid- 
ing and  pack  animals.  And  during  the  rush  to  the  mines  the 
travel  was  so  great,  that  a  single  boat  could  hardly  carry  it ;  at 
times  hundreds  had  to  wait  their  turn. 

These  western  ferry-boats  are  propelled  by  the  current  of 

(126) 


The  "France  Settlement"  127 

the  stream,  by  keeping  them  diagonally  against  the  current  and 
in  a  direct  course  by  guy  ropes,  attached  to  pulleys  rolling  on  a 
wire  cable,  stretched  high  across  the  river. 

This  travel,  emigration  and  military  operations  afforded 
the  early  settlers  of  the  Walla  Walla  country  a  home  market  for 
many  years,  that  was  perhaps  never  surpassed  in  the  West. 
They  also  secured  the  most  desirable  spots  in  the  country  for 
permanent  homes — that  of  wooded  streams  with  prairie  bottoms. 

Some  of  these  first  settlers  got  their  start  by  digging  it  out 
of  the  rich  placers  of  Idaho  or  British  Columbia ;  others,  by 
working  at  such,  as  teaming  or  packing  to  the  mines,  either  on 
their  own  account,  or  by  wages,  at  sixty  to  one  hundred  dollars 
a  month ;  while  others  again  brought  it  with  them  across  the 
plains,  or  from  Oregon. 

Found  their  farm  wagons  worth  here  $200  or  $300,  cows 
$50  to  $100,  and  good  horses  and  mules  also  very  high,  and  a 
good  new  range. 

There  being  large  numbers  of  Indian  horses  already  here, 
such  and  half-breeds  were  cheap. 

Up  to  the  time  I  came  here  (1870),  Government  land  was 
offered  at  private  sale  to  anybody,  at  $1.25,  greenbacks,  per 
acre,  and  as  much  as  they  wanted  and  could  pay  for.  On 
account  of  the  proximity  to  and  richness  of  the  mines,  money 
was  plenty;  a  good  market  was  afforded  (about  one  dollar  a 
pound  at  the  mines),  so  a  settler  with  a  broken  leg  made  a 
stake  out  of  an  onion  patch  he  tended  in  a  season  ;  wages  were 
high ;  all  kinds  of  business  applicable  to  the  country  and  situ- 
ation, gave  large  returns,  and  the  mines  did  not  begin  to  fail  till 
1865.  And,  until  it  became  thickly  settled  around  them,  they 
had  a  very  healthy  climate.  Never  before,  or  since,  did  home 
seekers  have  such  splendid  opportunities  as  the  Walla  Walla 
country  afforded  to  its  first  settlers.  Yet,  famed  and  titled, 
high-flown  Government  experts,  with  big  pay  and  pomp,  had 
officially  reported,  after  expensive  examination,  that  this  whole 
Columbia  river  basin  was  worthless  for  agriculture. 

When  I  came  here,  about  all  the  land  that  had  been  taken 
up  in  the  Walla  Walla  country  was  a  tract  adjacent  to  and  east 
of  Walla  Wa;ila ;  that  which  bordered  on  the  streams,  where  it 
was  fertile  and  otherwise  suitable,  and  the  hollows  and  level 


128  Building  a  Home. 


spots  containing  springs  of  water  and  situated  on  the  road 
from  "Wallula  to  Lewiston. 

There  were  but  two  villages — Walla  "Walla  and  Waitsburgh 
-  and  but  four  Post  Offices  in  all  the  region  of  Washington, 
that  lies  south  of  the  Columbia  and  Snake  rivers,  now  compris- 
ing four  quite  populous  counties,  but  then  all  belonging  to 
Walla  Walla  county  alone.  So  there  was  yet  plenty  of  vacant 
land  to  choose  from. 

But  the  fruitful  neighboring  mines  were  quite  worked  out, 
and  valleys  near  them  had  been  settled  and  put  in  cultivation 
to  supj)ly  their  wants ;  so  these  markets  and  sources  of  money 
supply  were  mostly  gone ;  river  freights  were  so  high,  that  no 
produce  could  be  shipped  down  to  the  sea ;  the  great  Columbia 
and  Snake  river  basin  was  without  a  market,  and  times  were 
getting  hard  when  I  settled  in  the  country. 

This  Columbia  and  Snake  river  basin  is  quite  barred  in 
from  the  sea  by  the  Cascade  mountains.  But  the  Columbia 
river  gorges  through  it,  making  a  good  natural  outlet  and  inlet 
to  and  from  the  sea,  which  could  have  been  made  available  and 
almost  free  to  the  people  at  a  comparative  slight  expense, 
by  Washington  or  Oregon,  or  both,  in  overcoming  some  rapids 
which  obstruct  navigation. 

The  available  ground  by  these  rapids  was  soon  acquired 
by  a  close  company  of  secret  brethren,  who — by  building 
eighteen  miles  of  narrow-gauge  railway — were  allowed  to  hold 
the  whole  country  between  the  Rocky  and  Cascade  mountains 
by  the  throat,  and  levy  a  tribute  of  untold  millious  on  its 
j)eople.  They  were  thus  taxed  fifty  to  one  hundred  dollars  per 
ton  on  all  their  imports,  except  what  was  hauled  in  over  the 
mountains  on  wagons.  And  a  like  tribute  on  all  exports  to 
the  full  amount  each  kind  of  produce  could  pay,  and  continue 
to  be  produced. 

To  own  or  control  the  transportation  of  a  country,  is  to 
virtually  own  the  whole  business  of  it ;  because  such  owners 
can  thus  reap  all  of  the  profits  in  the  production  of  all  of  its 
produce.  What  more  could  they  get  if  they  ivere  made  (hunts  and 
Dukes  and  sole  j^roprietoi's  of  the  land  and  j^eople? 

The  tribute  paid  to  these  brethren  by  the  United  States 
Government  alone,  for  the  passage  through  their  custom  house 


The  "France  Settlement."  129 

gate,  of  military  supplies,  etc.,  would  have  more  than  built 
these  eipjhteen  miles  of  narrow-gauge  railroad,  worked  a  great 
saving  to  the  Government,  and  afforded  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  the  utility  of  about  1000  miles  of  navigable  rivers; 
which  would  be  better  than  the  same  number  of  miles  of  rail- 
road built  and  given  to  the  people. 

And  the  money  overpaid  to  this  charitable  (?)  ring  in  but 
a  few  (of  the  many)  years  by  the  people,  would  have  thus 
opened  these  rivers,  and  besides  have  grid-ironed  the  country 
with  narrow-gauge  railroads  to  them. 

But  the  people,  not  being  advanced  beyond  the  claptrap- 
catchwords  of  "  Democrat "  and  "Republican"  (both  meaning 
the  gang),  allowed  brethren  in  the  ring  to  hold  office  to  the 
extent  that  nothing  was  ever  accomplished  against  its  interests 
and  for  the  people's  general  welfare. 

Finally  (1876)  to  hold  out  false  hopes  to  the  people — so 
they  would  not  rebel  and  would  continue  to  vote  for  the 
brethren,  and  to  further  fill  their  pockets — the  general  Govern- 
ment was  caused  to  commence  a  $5,000,000  or  $6,000,000  lock- 
canal  around  the  obstructions,  which  has  been  used  as  a  blind 
for  big  appropriations  by  Congress  to  enrich  the  gang, — there 
being  comparatively  little  work  done  to  open  the  river. 

There  has  never  been  an  editor  in  all  this  upper  country, 
who  dared  to  give  the  true  secret  inwardness  of  this  nefarious 
job  of  clutching  by  the  throat  and  choking  off  from  the  people, 
for  one  or  two  generations,  a  thousand  miles  of  navigable 
rivers  that  drain  a  fertile  grain  and  mineral  producing  country, 
that  in  its  natural  resources  is  only  surpassed  by  that  drained 
by  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries.  And  when  the  Govern- 
ment frequently  spent  as  much  money  as  was  needed  to  utilize 
all  this  on  single  wagon  roads  and  trails  that  were  of  little  use. 
And  the  Washington  and  Oregon  Legislatures  (of  brethren) 
squandered  away  as  much  at  single  sessions. 

When  the  markets  of  the  mines  failed  to  be  equal  to  the 
supply,  and  the  natural  channel  of  trade  to  the  sea  and  the 
world  being  still  in  the  hands  and  power  of  a  foreign — "  mogul 
king" — secret  government,  that  had  its  custom  house  in  the 
only  pass  of  the  country,  and  was  stabbing  our  Government 
into  submission,  the  settlers  had  to  do  as  the  Indians  had  done 
9 


130  Building  a  Home. 


before — go  into  stock  raising.  This  demand  for  stock  cattle 
kept  their  price  up,  until  the  time  I  came  here,  (1870)  when, 
there  being  a  surplus,  they  gradually  fell  to  half  or  one-third 
of  the  former  price.  A  man  bought  a  lot  of  yearlings  at  that 
time  at  twenty  dollars  a  head,  and  sold  them  three  or  four 
years  later  for  the  same  price — their  growth  just  equalled  their 
decline. 

The  country  was  on  this  downward  turn  when  I  settled  in 
it.  Though  the  people  were  hopeful  that  they  would  dislodge 
the  mystic  pirates  on  the  river ;  that  the  N.  P.  railroad,  or  some 
other  would  be  speedily  built  to  Puget  Sound,  and  the  people 
be  permitted  to  prosper.  "  Where  every  prospect  pleases  and 
only  man  is  vile." 

The  land  claim  I  had  located,  was  a  mostly  level  and  fer- 
tile one-quarter  section  of  prairie,  with  a  good  spring  and 
building  site  by  it,  and  it  was  adjacent  to  the  Walla  Walla  and 
Lewiston  road  noted  before.  But  it  was  fourteen  miles  from 
timber  and  wood  ;  on  which  account  my  means  were  scant  to  do 
the  necessary  fencing,  building,  breaking,  etc.,  to  afford  a  living 
without  working  for  others  at  least  fourteen  miles  away;  as 
nothing  could  be  raised  on  the  place  for  a  year  or  two,  and 
perhaps  no  profit  the  third  or  fourth. 

There  are  many  expenses  to  meet  all  the  time  in  making  a 
home,  though  no  help  be  employed,  and  accidents  will  occur. 
One  little  one  is  enough  to  break  a  settler  all  up^  if  it  throws 
him  into  the  hands  and  power  of  a  lawyer  or  doctor.  It  being 
secretly  fixed  with  the  courts  of  justice  (?),  that  either  can  get 
or  spoil  all  that  the  victim  has,  though  known  to  be  guilty  of 
inhuman  deceit  and  malpractice.  Thus  do  so  many  blacklegs 
thrive  and  homebuilders  fail.  And  the  necessary  outfit  of 
team,  wagon,  harness,  plow,  harrow,  feed,  seed,  tools,  grub,  etc., 
to  work  with,  costs  quite  a  sum. 

Of  course,  one  expects  to  get  along  for  years  with  the  kind 
of  a  house,  furniture,  out-buildings,  etc.,  that  he  can  build  him- 
self, by  perhaps  exchanging  work  with  his  neighbor,  if  he  has 
any,  wherein  one  cannot  work  to  advantage  alone.  Nor  can  he 
spend  much  time  in  them  either,  as  he  has  so  much  other  work, 
such   as  breaking,  fencing,  hauling,  etc.,  etc.,  that   must   be 


(131) 


132  Building  a  Home. 


pushed  ahead,  or  he  will  be  overtaken  by  the  hounds,  and 
never  make  a  living  on  the  place. 

The  situation  must  be  looked  in  the  face,  and  fully  com^ 
prehended  without  blinking,  and  any  regard  for  fashion  or 
appearance  to  others  spurned. 

My  first  team  was  of  wild,  half-breed  Indian  horses  ;  would 
have  to  catch  them  with  a  lasso,  and  they  would  snort,  buck 
and  kick  to  a  wagon.  And  such  a  wagon !  It  was  like  those 
scattered  about  to  adorn  (?)  the  lawn  of  a  blacksmith  shop. 
But  I  built  3000  rails  for  it  all  the  same ;  not  on  account  of  its 
beauty,  but  to  put  off  the  greater  expense  of  two  hundred 
dollars  for  a  new  one,  —the  secret  charitable  (?)  pirates  at  the 
river  charging  a  tariff  of  fifty  or  seventy-five  dollars  on  a 
wagon ;  and  so  a  plow  cost  thirty  or  forty  dollars ;  and  on  hard 
wood,  so  that  an  axle  tree,  tongue,  etc.,  cost  ten  or  fifteen  dollars 
each.  A  man  paid  eighty-five  dollars  to  have  a  common  farm 
wagon  repaired. 

Remember  going  to  a  fourth  of  July  celebration  and  on 
other  business,  and  when  I  went  to  hitch  up,  found  the  double 
and  whiffle  trees  had  been  used  and  left  at  a  distance,  when 
with  an  ax,  piece  of  a  rail  and  picket  rope,  I  made  another  set 
in  a  very  few  minutes  for  the  occasion.  Such  was  the  outfit  we 
went  about  with  to  keep  ahead  of  the  hounds,  when  not  on 
horseback,  in  building  a  home  and  competency,  and  it  took  two 
packs  of  ravenous,  blood-thirsty  bloodhounds,  and  the  prosti- 
tution of  the  Government,  to  hound,  intrigue,  stab_and  ring  us 
down. 

We  would  jest  and  ridicule  with  those  so  disposed  at  our 
outfit,  or  anything  of  the  kind,  and  hold  it  to  be  a  new  fashion, 
soon  to  be  imitated  by  all ;  which  happened  to  be  about  so, 
when,  ha\'ing  cut  the  bush  of  my  horses'  tails  square  oft'  for  an 
attractive  mark  I  had  never  seen  or  heard  of,  that  I  would 
more  surely  hear  of  them  when  they  strayed  away ;  for  after- 
wards this  mark  became  the  fashion  of  the  world,  and  men 
adopted  it  for  its  beauty,  who  had  ridiculed  it  to  me  as  ugly 
and  detestible. 

Not  having  means  enough  to  go  ahead  to  advantage  on  a 
claim  so  distant  from  timber  and  wood,  and  hearing  of  a  fertile 
prairie  and  timber  country  at  the  head  of  the  Alpowa,  about 


The  "France  Settlement."  133 

twenty-five  miles  away,  where  "  there  were  natural  meadows  of 
clover,"  and  situated  nearer  Snake  river  (the  prospective 
market)  and  Lewiston  (the  best  present  market),  and  through 
which  were  I adian  trails  and  a  shorter  route  for  a  through-road 
from  Walla  Walla  to  Lewiston  and  beyond,  I  went  to  see 
about  it. 

Passing  over  an  extensive  stretch  of  unsettled,  rich,  up- 
land prairie,  bordering  on  Padet  creek  to  the  west  and  Tu-Can- 
yon  to  the  east  -  striking  the  Indian  trails — then  going  down 
into  the  big,  deep  Canyon,  crossing  its  wooded  bottom  and 
stream  up  towards  the  mountain ;  then  up  and  over  the  brakes 
on  the  trails  ;  over  another  stretch  of  high  in  altitude,  but  pro- 
mising prairie,  reaching  south  to  the  mountain,  and  east  and 
north  to  the  breaks  of  the  Pataha  (Pa-tah-ha  prairie).  Settle- 
ment on  both  of  these  up-land  sections  had  lately  been  com- 
menced, and  two  or  three  houses  built  on  each. 

You  see  now,  that  the  "  sections "  and  settlements  are 
separated  by  canyons  and  gorges,  and  the  rough,  rocky  breaks 
bordering  thereon. 

Following  the  Nez-Perce  trails  (as  did  Lewis  and  Clarke 
the  same  in  1804)  down  and  across  the  Pataha  gorge  and  creek, 
where  it  forks  ;  then  on  a  ridge,  between  the  Pataha  and  breaks 
of  the  head  of  the  Alpowa,  for  four  miles,  and  here  lay  the  spot 
I  was  looking  for. 

It  is  likewise  high  in  altitude,  but  is  interspersed  with 
belts  and  groves  of  timber — of  pine,  intermingled  with  fir, 
tamerack  and  cottonwood,  (giving  this  tract  of  country  a  pleas- 
ing, park-like  appearance,  in  striking  contrast  with  the  treeless 
expanse  on  three  sides,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach — a  view  of 
fifty  miles),  with  prairies  intervening,  that  are  unlike  in  ex- 
tent, evenness  and  fertility  ;  they  being  partly  arable,  and  partly 
pasture  lands. 

Of  course,  there  were  no  roads  across  the  gulches ;  it  was 
as  scantily  watered  as  other  sections  ;  the  clover  meadows  were 
a  delusion ;  no  post-office,  school-house,  blacksmith  shop, 
sawmill,  grist-mill,  or  store  nearer  than  twenty-four  to  thirty 
miles  by  trail,  and  forty  to  fifty  by  wagon  road.  And  there 
was  nothing  of  the  kind  this  side  of  the  big  Tu-Canyon  or  Snake 


134  Building  a  Home. 


river — with  its  six  dollars  ferriage  to  Lewiston.      And  there 
was  no  grist-mill  at  Lewiston, 

"  Alpowai "  is  Indian  for  "  Spring  Creek."  It  empties  into 
Snake  river.  Two  missionaries— Dr.  Whitman  and  Spaulding 
— stopped  a  short  time  at  the  mouth  of  this  stream  on  their 
arrival  from  the  States  to  this  coast,  in  1837,  when  they  planted 
some  apple  seeds  here  for  the  Indians.  From  these  seeds  have 
grown  some  very  large,  fruitful  and  famed  trees — living  monu- 
ments of  good  men,  and  the  oldest  mark  of  civilization  in  the 
Walla  Walla  country,  if  not  in  the  North-west.  Twenty-five  or 
thirty  Nez-Perce  Indians  still  (1889)  live,  farm  and  raise  stock 
on  the  lower  creek.  But  the  "  Old  Indian  Orchard "  is  not 
theirs  anymore.  They  long  ago  renounced  their  tribal  relations 
and  are  good  citizens. 

At  one  time  they  loaned  some  horses  to  volunteers,  to  fight 
hostile  Indians,  for  which  they  never  got  any  pay  or  even  the 
animals  back.  And  when  Colonel  Steptoe  and  his  force  got 
whipped  by  hostiles  beyond  the  river — in  1858  -  old  Timothy 
led  them  out  of  a  death  trap,  and,  with  the  other  creek  Indians, 
ferried  them  across  the  river  in  the  night — thus  saving  the 
lives  of  over  a  hundred  men,  and  for  which  the  cowardly-ingrate 
Steptoe  never  even  said  "  thank  you." 

Timothy's  wife  died  recently  (1889),  aged  ninety-five  years; 
she  remembered  Lewis  and  Clark  quite  well,  and  how  well  they 
were  entertained  by  her  people.  The  oldest  Nez-Perces  revere 
the  memory  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  as  the  first  white  men  they 
ever  saw  (1804). 

At  the  time  of  this  land  hunting  trip  (1871),  when  I  located 
my  place,  there  were  five  or  six  white  men  living  on  the  Asotin 
creek,  twelve  to  twenty  miles  to  the  south-east, — only  one  of 
whom  had  a  wagon — but  there  was  not  a  white  woman  in  what 
is  now  Asotin  county.  Jerry  McGuire,  Noble  Henry  and  Wm. 
Hopwood  were  the  first  settlers,  I  believe.  Joseph  Harris  and 
Dan  Faver  lived  on  the  Alpowai  creek,  Dudley  Strain  on  the 
Alpowa-ridge-prairie  (which  lies  between  the  Alpowa  and  Pa- 
taha).  The  latter  was  soon  joined  by  Mr.  Harris,  who  had  a 
band  of  cattle  to  help  them  out.  They  and  their  families 
(eight  miles  away)  were  our  nearest  permanent  neighbors  for 


The  "France  Settlement."  135 

several  years,  and,  happily,  they  were  good  and  useful  ones  in 
times  of  need. 

The  foregoing,  with  the  fifteen  ol*  twenty  men  living  on  the 
Pataha  creek  and  prairie  to  the  north-west,  constituted  the  po- 
pulation of  the  region  between  Tu-Canyon,  Snake  river  and  the 
Oregon  line — now  forming  two  quite  populous  counties. 

There  was,  indeed,  a  branch  Indian  trail  route — up  the  Pa- 
det  creek  through  this  park-like  tract  (at  the  head  of  the  Alpo- 
wai)  -  to  Lewiston  and  the  Asotin  country,  and  no  practical 
route  across  the  Alpowa  between  this  and  the  other  one,  (that 
I  travelled  sixty  miles  on  when  I  came  to  the  country  and 
stopped  in  the  "  Upper  Tou-chet "  section),  and  to  the  south 
are  the  Blue  mountains.  But  to  make  a  wagon  road  across 
Tu-Canyon  and  the  Pataha  required  a  great  deal  of  work,  which 
could  not  be  done  until  the  country  along  the  route  was  some- 
what settled  up.  And  there  was  road  work  to  do  in  crossing 
the  wooded  gulches  here. 

In  one  of  these  gulches,  where  the  trail  crossed  it,  there 
flowed,  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more,  the  principal  spring, 
or  springs  of  water  for  several  miles  around,  and  fertile  prairie 
land  lay  more  adjacent  to  this  spring,  than  to  any  other,  that 
would  afford  water  for  so  large  a  band  of  stock  and  for  other 
business. 

Here  was  "  water,  wood  and  grass,"  with  a  good  sheltered 
building  place,  joined  to  land  ready  for  the  plow  ;  which  is 
joined  by  enough  more  laud  that  is  destitute  of  water,  so  as  not 
to  be  valuable  to  others,  on  which  I  could  lay  my  other  land 
rights,  or  buy,  so  as  to  have  enough  for  a  spacious  home  and 
business,  to  justify  the  pioneering  and  toil  necessary  to  under- 
go in  the  building  of  a  home  alone  in  a  wilderness. 

The  Government  justly  gave  to  the  pioneers  of  Oregon  and 
Western  Washington  claims  of  640  acres  of  rich  bottom  and 
prairie  lands,  bordering  on  rivers  flowing  unfettered  to  the  sea; 
and  it  was  death  to  a  jumper.  Patents  to  8000  such  "donation 
claims  ''  were  issued.  Yet,  when  I  had  more  surely  earned,  and 
obtained  by  subsequent  and  more  exacting  laws,  a  less  tract  of 
land  in  a  back  wilderness,  bottled  up  and  strangled  from  the 
sea  by  the  gang,  the  grasping,  black-leg,  midnight,  blood-suck- 
ing hounds  held  it  to  be  death-deserving,  to  hold  and  enjoy  it. 


136  Building  a  Home. 


This  I  will  prove  in  one  place  and  another  so  plain  and  posi- 
tively,  that  none  but  a  contemptible,  villainous  thief  will  dis- 
pute it. 

After  looking  around,  I  laid  the  customary  "  foundation," 
(four  poles  in  a  square)  by  the  big  spring  of  my  hopeful  desire, 
and  posted  a  notice  that  I  hereby  claimed  it,  with  a  quarter 
section  of  land  about  it,  October,  1871. 

This  land  being  then  unsurveyed,  it  could  not  be  designated 
and  filed  on  at  the  Land  office,  which  was  at  Walla  Walla.  Nor 
could  one  tell,  within  forty  rods,  where  his  lines  would  be,  till 
it  was  surveyed.  As  the  claim  I  had  located  before  was  also 
on  unsurveyed  land,  I  therefore  had  not  used,  or  lost  any  land- 
right  in  locating  and  disposing  of  it.  So  I  had  the  pre-emption 
and  homestead  rights  to  use  here,  and  the  timber  culture  and 
desert  land  rights  left  to  use  elsewhere,  if  I  so  desired. 

There  were  a  few  other  claims  taken  in  this  locality  about 
this  time  by  others,  and  more  the  following  summer,  but  they 
were  all  abandoned  in  a  year  or  two,  after  more  or  less  work. 
For  this  locality  was  so  far  away  from  supplies,  that  had  to  be 
hauled  by  such  a  round-about  way,  or  packed  in  by  the  Indian 
trail,  and  there  being  no  one  anywhere  near,  who  was  able  to 
give  employment  to  those  short  of  means,  necessary  to  meet 
expenses  and  go  ahead  with  their  improvements  ;  with  every- 
thing to  buy  at  big  prices,  and  nothing  to  sell,  it  was  a  hard 
struggle  to  get  along. 

There  was  a  surplus  produced  on  the  Pataha  creek,  along 
the  road  ;  but  oats,  barley  and  potatoes  were  two  or  three  cents 
a  pound ;  hogs,  eight  cents  gi'oss,  and  wheat,  one  dollar  a 
bushel.  And  this  in  the  face  of  a  limited  and  declining 
market.  Prices  got  less  towards  Walla  Walla— which  was  the 
Egypt  of  the  new  settlements  -  and  greater  towards  the  mines 
of  Idaho  and  British  Columbia. 

A  future  market  depended  on  a  river  or  rail  outlet  to  the 
sea,  and  on  a  numerous  immigration,  that  must  consume  before 
they  could  produce. 

The  prices  of  merchandise  were  between  that  of  a  settled 
farming  country  and  a  mining  camp.  My  store  bills  for  seven 
years,  after  we  were  married,  run  from  $150  to  S350  a  year. 

However,  thinking  that  what  by  our  ability,  industry  and 


The  "France  Settlement."  137 

economy  we  honestly  earned,  we  could  hold  and  enjoy  in 
peace,  we  concluded  to  go  to  work  and  build  a  good  and  spacious 
home  here,  and  we  went  at  it  full  of  hope  and  ambition,  to 
succeed  in  the  face  of  both  ridicule  and  earnest  advice. 

One  who  did  not  toil  or  spin,  yet  gathered  in  other  people's 
barns  and  things,  impressed  me  with  other  and  easier  ways  to 
get  a  competency,  than  such  a  hard  and  homely  way.  "There 
are  other  ways  for  you  to  get  along,  better  than  by  work — 
whatever  you  do,  let  such  work  be  the  very  last  thing  to  think 
of  doing,"  he  said.  And  he  warned  me  of  the  tangled  meshes 
of  perplexity,  and  the  treacherous,  deadly  mire  of  grim  con- 
spiracy and  treason,  that  is  masked  and  planted  in  the  way,  to 
stab,  bleed,  ravage  and  murder  the  homebuilder ;  examples  of 
which  will  be  given  in  other  chapters. 

True,  I  had  some  business  ability  and  experience  in  the 
real  and  living  world,  and  by  linking  in  with  the  gang  that 
prostitutes  the  courts,  could  have  acquired  larger  tracts  of 
land  and  ready  made  homes  without  any  toil,  as  so  many 
charitable  brethren  do.  There  were  others  with  ridicule  or 
advice,  who  had  not  ability  enough  to  make  a  living  for  them- 
selves. 

But  no  one  questioned  our  rigJit  to  build,  hold  and  enjoy 
a  home  here  if  we  could;  and  certainly  no  one  then  envied  the 
prospect  or  place.  Some  declared  they  "  would  not  settle  in  that 
neck  of  woods  for  a  deed  to  a  township  of  land."  But,  having 
no  responsible  guardian,  I  went  ahead  and  laid  in  a  supply  of 
necessary  implements,  tools,  etc. ;  grain  for  feed  and  seed ;  a 
few  hundred  feet  of  lumber ;  a  year's  supply  of  grub,  clothing, 
etc. ;  settled  up  my  accounts  ;  gathered  up  my  stock — in  which 
our  start  thus  far  mostly  consisted ;  parted  from  what  little 
civilization  there  was,  and  went  to  work  on  the  place. 

Our  house  was  a  log  cabin,  neither  spacious  nor  elegant, 
but  being  the  best  we  had  ever  owned,  it  seemed  to  us  to  be 
both  spacious  and  elegant.  And  the  furniture  would  have  sold 
for  not  more  than  $2.50  in  a  town. 

But,  "  the  house  and  home  of  every  one  should  be  to  him 
as  his  castle  and  fortress,  as  well  for  his  defense  against  injury 
and  violence,  as  for  his  repose. " 


138  Building  a  Home. 


"  The  true  test  of  liberty  is  in  the  practical  enjoyment  of 
protection  in  the  right. 

Where  the  same  laws  extend  to  all  the  citizens  of  differ- 
ent denominations ;  where  the  poorest  claims  obtain  redi'ess 
against  the  strongest ;  where  his  person  and  property  is  secure 
from  every  insult  within  the  limits  assigned  to  him  by  the 
known  laws  of  his  country." 

Thus  we  started  out  on  the  rugged  road — that  not  one  in 
fifty  travels  over  successfully — without  pomp  or  assistance,  but 
full  of  love  and  hope,  agreeing  in  all  things,  truly  in  earnest  to 
succeed,  and  asking  no  favors  of  men. 

Nor  were  we  at  all  dismayed  by  any  such  stumbling  blocks 
as  the  first,  cast  in  our  way  at  the  critical  outset — the  worse 
than  stealing  of  a  few  hundred  paltry  dollars  in  property,  that 
was  an  absolute  gift  and  heritage  to  a  child  from  her  grand- 
mother, greatly  enlarged  by  her  own  skillful  endeavors. 

In  travelling  in  the  West,  as  in  moving,  etc.,  one  carries 
picket-ropes,  grain,  grub  and  blankets  and  camp  out,  because 
money  can  be  more  easily  saved  in  this  way,  than  made  by 
working  ;  and,  except  an  occasional  ranch  on  a  main  road  for 
such  accommodation,  houses  of  any  kind  are  not  often  available, 
even  in  a  storm.  But  with  a  good  outfit  and  agreeable  com- 
pany, camping  out  can  be  made  enjoyable. 

The  plows  in  the  west  are  of  steel,  and  must  be  frequently 
sharpened  by  a  blacksmith.  The  nearest  one  for  me  during 
the  first  season  was  twenty-five  miles  away.  He  used  bark, 
not  having  time  to  burn  coal ;  he  was  a  skillful  mechanic,  and 
Sam  Miller  was  a  good  man.  After  this  there  was  a  black- 
smith but  eight  miles  away.  When  my  plow  got  dull,  would 
hitch  on  two  more  horses— making  five  or  six — to  stave  off 
such  trips. 

But  the  hauling  of  supplies  from  the  nearest  '  Egypt,' 
over  long  and  often  bridgeless  and  otherwise  almost  impassable 
roads,  to  a  new  settlement,  is  a  great  drawback.  And  when 
this  is  prolonged  by  failure  of  crops,  by  insect  or  other  pests, 
it  is  so  costly  and  discouraging,  that  many  fall  back. 

The  claims  about  us  that  had  been  abandoned  were  soon 
relocated  by  other  men,  who  added  somewhat  to  the  improve- 
ments on  the  same.     But  in  the  following  spring  these  settlers 


(139) 


OF   THE 

TT -NT  T  VF: -R  c;  T  T  Y" 


140  Building  a  Home. 


took  spells  of  gazing  intently  at  the  ground.  An  old  prospector 
—passing  through  on  the  trail  for  a  season's  prospect  in  Idaho, 
with  his  pack  mule  following  like  a  dog— inquired  of  one  of 
these  gazing  homebuilders,  "  have  you  struck  a  color,  pard  ?  " 

But  he  gets  no  reply  or  notice ;  and  no  wonder,  the  ground 
is  indeed  "  lousy." 

The  homebuilder  from  Kansas — as  he  gazes  at,  kicks  and 
stamps  the  fertile  soil — is  heard  to  mutter  "  Grasshoppers,  by 
G-d!" 

His  past  experience  loomed  before  him  like  a  hideous 
dream.  Heretofore  he  could  mortgage  his  home  for  a  little  of 
something  that  was  portable,  and  skip  to  the  trackless  West. 
But  there  was  nobody  to  invest  anything  in  such  a  prospect,  as 
was  here,  and  the  trackless  West  was  about  run  down. 

A  company  of  Nez-Perce  Indians  rode  carelessly  and 
happily  by  on  the  trail ;  they  were  well-mounted,  also  well  fed 
and  clothed,  and  had  as  good  a  home  as  the  homebuilder. 
They  were  going  to  some  camas  or  koivsh  ground,  where  a  sort 
of  wild  potatoe  grows  in  abundance  and  variety,  and  where 
fresh  meat  could  be  had  for  the  killing.  In  a  month  they 
would  take  a  fishing  excursion,  and  it  was  all  a  pic-nic. 

As  they  pass  along,  the  Indians,  perhaps,  discuss  the  white 
man's  boasted  civilization,  and  point  out  examples  to  their 
children.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  Kansas  and  Washington 
homebuilder  looks  up  at  them  and  wonders  why  he  never  had 
the  common  sense  of  an  Indian. 

The  hoppers  turned  out  to  be  big,  black  crickets,  though  as 
destructive  as  grasshoppers,  and  often  more  so,  many  men 
wasting  a  great  deal  of  time  in  ditching  and  otherwise  fighting 
against  them.     This  was  in  1873. 

That  spring  I  had  twenty  acres  into  grain — on  land  I  had 
broke  the  spring  before  — and  a  big  garden.     My  first  crop. 

Had  also  a  good  start  of  expensive  stock-hogs  ;  8000  rails 
into  fence  ;  and  had  set  out  an  orchard  of  about  200  trees  ;  and 
had  done  a  good  deal  of  road  work. 

I  commenced  to  ditch  against  the  crickets,  but  finding  it 
useless,  gave  up  my  whole  crop  to  them  without  a  whimper. 
Some  people  haven't  sense  enough  to  know  when  they  are 
whipped.    They  overcrept  the  land  more  or  less,  for  fifty  miles 


The  "France  Settlement."  141 

around,  taking  the  gardens,  except  peas  and  potatoes,  and  the 
small  crops  of  the  new  settlers.  The  large  fields  of  grain  of 
the  old  settlers,  being  more  than  a  supply  for  them,  were  only 
partially  destroyed. 

While  I  went  straight  to  breaking  twenty  acres  more 
prairie  for  a  bigger  crop  next  year.  I  was  the  only  one  in  this 
section  that  did  so ;  and  in  a  few  months  was  the  only  man 
living  on  his  claim,  in  the  now  known  as  the  "  France  Settle- 
ment."    And  nobody  yet  envied  me  my  possession. 

The  crickets  left  us  potatoes  and  peas,  that  they  did  not 
like,  and  enough  grain  to  winter  the  thirty-five  head  of  hogs, 
that  promised  to  give  us  a  lift  the  following  year.  The  pest 
was  an  all  summer's  feast  to  them. 

I  cradled  over  all  of  the  twenty  acres,  and  hauled  and 
stacked  the  grain  alone.  The  same  summer  and  fall  this 
section  of  country,  6x12  miles — two  townships— was  sur- 
veyed, as  near  as  essential,  into  forty  acre-square  tracts. 

So  now  I  could  lay  my  place  definitely  by  the  lines,  and  file 
my  claim  to  it  at  the  land  office,  after  some  months,  when  the 
office  got  ready  for  it. 

A  portion  of  my  field  turned  out  to  be  on  a  "School 
section,"  (there  being  two  such  in  each  township)  but  having 
settled  before  the  survey,  could  therefore  hold  my  claim  as  it 
was,  except  that  I  must  draw  in  or  push  out  to  the  survey 
lines.  Could  take  four  forty-acre  tracts,  but  they  must  be  con- 
nected and  butt  square  against  each  other.  Could  do  this  and 
form  the  claim  either  in  a  half  mile  square ;  a  mile  long  and 
one-quarter  wide ;  in  the  shape  of  a  T,  L,  or  Z  :  whichever 
would  take  in  the  most  desirable  land. 

However,  as  there  was  a  law — that  was  being  generally 
availed  of  in  the  old  settlements — for  leasing  such  school 
sections,  in  whole  or  in  part,  at  a  nominal  sum ;  and  as  this 
tract  was  entirely  destitute  of  water,  so  that  it  would  be  of 
little  comparative  value  to  others,  I  did  not  file  on  any  of  it, 
thinking  that  hereafter  I  could  lease,  and  afterwards  buy — if  it 


142  Building  a  Home. 


was  sold — such  portion  as  I  might  need  in  my  business,  and 
was  able  to  pay  for  according  to  present  and  future  laws.  I 
could  get  a  few  acres  of  land  in  the  garden  of  California,  on  a 
clam  beach  on  Puget  Sound,  or  in  the  Sandwich  Islands — 
enough  for  a  bare  living.  But,  of  course,  I  wanted  land 
enough  for  a  desirable  home  and  a  profitable  business  and  for 
my  children.  What  else  was  I  here  for  ?  What  other  induce- 
ment was  there  to  pioneer  in  a  back  wilderness  while  it  would 
produce  nothing  but  big,  black,  hungry  crickets — a  hundred 
bushels  to  the  acre  !  Nobody  wanted  to  murder  me  then  for 
my  possessions  !  Even  the  Indians  looked  on  me  with  com- 
passion as  I  struggled  along,  and  they  never  did  us  any  harm, 
with  all  their  opportunities  to  do  so. 

While  I  was  thus  earning  a  competency,  members  of  the 
charitable  (?)  gangs  were  conspiring  to  steal  school  and  other 
lands  by  the  section  and  township,  as  will  hereafter  appear. 
And  that  they  were  held  up  for  admiration  by  high  officials 
who  conspired  to  murder  me  by  inches  in  cold  blood ! 

Not  finding  it  profitable  to  raise  crickets  and  grain  at  the 
same  time,  I  thought  I  would  try  to  make  something  out  of 
the  famous  bunch  grass  range.  So  that  summer  (1873)  I  got  a 
band  of  over  100  stock  cattle  to  keep  on  shares  for  half  the  in- 
crease. But  learned  by  the  following  spring  that  the  range 
for  cattle  was  greatly  over-rated,  except  for  those  having  secret 
influence  at  court,  so  they  can  make  their  losses  good  from 
other  people's  bands  with  impunity.  I  had  provided  feed  on 
the  range  where  the  cattle  were  running,  and  fed  those  that 
were  unable  to  rustle.  Though  it  was  a  moderate  winter,  and 
there  was  grass  in  sight  all  the  time,  but  few  of  them  did  well 
on  the  range.  So  I  traded  the  business  off  for  six  good  milch 
cows  with  calves,  and  having  two,  made  eight  cows,  or  sixteen 
head  of  my  own. 

The  man  I  traded  with  made  nothing  out  of  the  band. 

Whenever  a  snow  storm  set  in  I  straddled  a  horse  and 
struck  out  over  the  range — five  to  fifteen  miles  away — to  see  to 
the  cattle. 


The  "France  Settlement."  143 

It  is  a  pitiful  sight  one  sees  in  riding  over  these  western 
stock  ranges  in  winter.  Cattle  gather  in  on  streams  and 
ravines  for  shelter  and  water,  where  they  will  stay  and  starve 
for  feed  rather  than  strike  out  and  climb  for  the  bare  wind- 
ward side  of  the  hills,  or  when  they  are  on  the  leeward  side 
of  a  hill  or  gorge,  where  the  sun  strikes  with  good  effect  and 
keeps  the  grass  pretty  bare  of  snow,  they  will  stay  here  and 
starve  for  water,  and  then  go  to  the,  perhaps  frozen-up,  creek, 
where,  if  the  water  happens  to  be  open,  they  will  drink  to 
excess,  and  then  stop  in  the  brush  and  trees — if  any  there  be — 
and  starve  for  grass.  If  no  water,  they  moan  and  die  for  a 
drink.  The  feed  near  watering  places  is  always  eaten  off  close 
in  summer.  It  is  here  that  cattle  largely  pine,  are  cast,  and 
die  ;  here  they  battle  the  fates  and  each  other  like  men ;  half  a 
dozen  big,  long-horned  steers  gore  a  single  crippled,  weakly 
animal  down  or  fast  in  a  drift  of  snow  or  wood,  because  it  does 
not  belong  to  their  band  or  clan.  I  found  a  cow  thus  wedged 
into  a  clump  of  trees  and  hanging  by  the  hips  with  her  knees 
down  the  bank  on  the  ice,  and  her  calf  bleating  pitifully  near 
by.  One  sees  many  calves  bleating  in  despair,  pining  and 
dying  by  their  cast,  dying  and  dead  mothers,  while  clans  of 
wolves  are  barking  and  feasting  on  their  quivering  misery,  like 
clans  of  human  kine.  Cattle  gather  in  on  the  Columbia,  Snake 
and  other  rivers,  inflamed  and  crazed  with  burning  thirst, 
crowd  out  on  the  ice  for  an  opening  in  the  stream,  when  the 
ice  breaks  and  they  are  drowned— whole  bands  at  a  time. 

Early  in  the  spring,  before  many  owners  know  what  the 
winter  has  left,  cattlemen  of  the  clan  that  rules  th«  court, 
strike  out  and  gather  up  about  everything  that  can  travel, 
drive  them  out  of  the  country  -  often  to  British  Columbia — and 
sell  out,  to  do  it  again  and  again.  But  when  one,  who  has 
been  but  a  hired  hand  for  these  gentry,  steals  but  a  few  head 
on  his  oivn  account,  he  is  branded  as  a  "  cattle  thief,"  his  prop- 
erty divided  among  the  court  gang,  and  he  is  sent  to  the  peni- 
tentiary for  five  or  ten  years. 

The  survey  plats  being  received  at  the  local  land  office, 
from  Washington,  I  filed  my  Pre-emption  claim  and  received 
the  following  receipts  : 


(lU) 


The  "France  Settlement."  145 

I  had  from  six  to  thirty-three  months  from  date  of  settle- 
ment to  pay  $200  for  this  claim  and  get  a  patent  for  it,  when  I 
could  take  a  homestead  claim. 

It  being  uncertain  as  to  the  time  I  would  need  to  do  this, 
my  settlement  was  dated  only  about  a  year  before  I  filed.  The 
word  "  Unoffered  "  means  that  the  land  was  not  for  sale  out- 
right, as  it  had  been  about  Walla  Walla  up  to  1870. 

I  had  been  working  to  get  a  county  road  laid  out  from 
near  Dayton,  up  Padet  creek,  through  this  section  to  Lewis- 
ton.  And  with  the  assistance  of  Messrs.  Stringer  &  Whaley 
(then  living  on  Tu-Canyon)  it  was  viewed  out,  surveyed,  mile 
posts  set  and  granted — fifty-two  and  a  half  miles — October, 
1874. 

But  there  was  yet  much  work  to  do  to  open  it,  which  cost 
me — first  and  last — much  time,  labor,  and  other  expense.  And 
afterwards  I  likewise  secured  the  cross  roads  that  are  in  this 
section. 

The  cricket  pest  was  still  (1874)  in  the  land,  and  besides,  it 
was  a  dry,  hot  season. 

I  had  sown  60  bushels  of  grain — mostly  wheat — that  I 
had  hauled  fifty  miles ;  did  not  make  enough  out  of  the  forty 
acre  crop  to  pay  for  the  seed. 

The  Mogul  pirates,  still  having  control  of  the  rivers  of  the 
country,  and  the  immigration  being  the  wrong  way,  my  ex- 
pensive hogs  were  only  worth  two  and  a  half  cents  a  pound. 
So  the  crickets  were  of  no  more  use  than  the  River  Clan. 

Some  of  the  clan  about  this  time  relieved  the  county 
treasury  of  about  $20,000  in  cash.  Theii  an  error  (?)  was 
"discovered"  in  the  security  bonds.  All  the  officials  were 
sworn  brethren,  so  nobody  was  punished,  and  the  people  paid 
for  the  charity ! 

A  man  built  a  wooden  and  strap-iron  railroad  from  Walla 
Walla  to  the  Columbia  river,  thirty  miles.  He  got  $5  and  up- 
wards per  ton  for  freight,  though  much  was  hauled  on  wagons 
as  before.  But  the  river  tariff  was  so  high  that  it  did  not  pay 
to  ship  grain  anyway.  There  were  not  even  any  grain  shipping 
facilities  on  Snake  river  in  1874.  Up  to  this  fall,  with  all  my 
hard  work  and  farming  and  expenses  I  had  had  nothing  to  sell 

10 


146  Building  a  Home. 


but  some  horses  and  cattle  from  my  little  herd,  and  was 
$200  in  debt.  But  had  manaj^ed  to  yet  have  a  good  start  of 
horses,  cattle,  hogs,  hens,  etc.,  and  had  pushed  my  improve- 
ments way  ahead :    yet,  nobody  envied  the  place. 

All  the  places  about  us  were  now  again  either  abandoned 
for  good  by  the  owners,  or  for  an  indefinite  time,  and  we  were 
alone  in  the  settlement. 

Even  our  staid  neighbors — Harris  and  Strain — were 
about  to  leave  the  "  damned  country."  I  was  berated  and  my 
sanity  questioned — more  than  usual,  and  in  no  uncertain  sound 
— ^because  I  did  not  join  in  cursing  the  country  and  leave  it 
when  others  left.  But  such  rebukes  of  fortune— as  natural 
pests  or  accidental  injury — not  being  due  to  conspiracy, 
treachery,  or  breaches  of  trusty  caused  in  me  no  bitter  sorrow 
or  any  loss  of  sleep,  and  we  were  not  unhappy. 

Moreover,  I  had  quit  prospecting  for  an  undiscovered, 
ready-made  fortune,  had  settled  down  to  earn  at  least  a  liveli- 
hood ;  did  not  expect  a  picnic  and  had  not  found  any. 

And  the  other  new  settlements  before  noted  could  be 
bought  entirely  by  the  claim  for  much  less  than  the  costs  of 
the  improvements,  and  some  of  them  were  now  deeded  land. 

Many  who  had  got  in  debt,  and  most  all  had  that  could, 
had  to  sell  their  places  for  what  they  could  get  to  other 
home-seekers,  who  were  able  and  willing  to  take  their  turn. 
Money  was  very  scarce  and  hard  to  get.  Old  settlers  left  their 
families  and  went  200  or  300  miles  away  to  work  for  money,  to 
pay  for  their  land  and  to  meet  other  expenses. 

Those  who  had  bands  of  cattle,  horses  or  sheep,  and  were 
out  of  debt,  could  hold  their  own  and  more,  with  good  manage- 
ment and  no  bad  luck. 

I  had  made  some  money  by  working  and  hauling  for 
others,  etc.,  and  bought  a  better  wagon,  harness,  plow,  etc. 
And  now  sold  all  of  our  cattle  except  two,  also  a  horse,  hogs, 
potatoes,  chickens  and  butter  ;  paid  up  what  I  owed,  bought 
seed  for  another  year— still  fifty  miles  away — and  laid  in  a  full 
year's  supply  of  provisions,  clothing,  etc.,  and  some  cash  in 
hand  for  another  siege.  Plowed  ten  acres  in  December, 
when  it  set  in  cold,  for  a  very  hard  winter.     And  we  made  a 


The  "France  Settlement."  147 

visiting  tour  of  six  weeks  as  far  as  Walla  Walla  and  beyond. 
Then  I  hauled  and  cut  up  my  regular  year's  supply  of  wood  for 
stove  and  fire-place-  spring  of  1875. 

The  country  between  the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers — 
known  as  the  "Palouse"  and  "Spokane"  sections — through 
which  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad  had  been  located,  had 
been  more  or  less  settled  up.  But  on  account  of  the  tariff 
extorted  by  the  river  pirates,  and  failure  of  the  other  charit- 
able clan  to  build  the  promised  railroad,  almost  all  of  these 
settlers,  except  those  well  provided  with  stock,  had  starved  out 
and  were  now  leaving  the  country  for  Oregon,  California,  and 
the  States.     Immigrants  came  in  and  took  their  places. 

Others  who  held  their  own,  or  did  even  better — in  spite  of 
the  adverse  situation  -  were  set  upon  and  pillaged  more  di- 
rectly by  brethren  with  influence  at  court,  and  their  places  also 
were  taken  by  others.  Some  left  the  route  of  the  railroad  to 
settle  nearer  Snake  or  the  Columbia  river,  thinking  it  would 
be  opened  first.     But  it  is  still  fettered  by  the  sworn  clan. 

The  cricket  pest  was  now  past,  but  the  hard  winter,  to- 
gether with  the  bottled  condition  of  the  country  and  other 
afflictions,  further  discouraged  settlers,  and  during  this  sum- 
mer of  1875,  many  also  left  this  division.  But  others  came 
in  to  take  their  places  and  continue  the  struggle  on  both  sides 
of  the  river,  until  their  successors  should  come.  And  a  few  of 
the  claims  that  had  been  abandoned  about  us  were  re-located. 

I  spent  much  valuable  and  often  thankless  time  in  riding 
about  and  otherwise  assisting  these  migratory  land  hunters. 
My  house  and  grain  stacks  were  always  open  to  them  without 
charge,  as  well  as  to  all  travellers  passing  through  on  the 
trails.  As  my  place  was  widely  known  and  often  the  only 
convenient  place  to  stop  at,  many  availed  themselves  of  it ; 
were  frequently  crowded  in  this  way. 

Besides  farming,  in  1875, 1  worked  with  my  four  horse 
team  in  hauling  for  others,  including  freight  from  Walla  Walla 
to  the  Lewiston  stores.  It  was  five  years  this  fall  that  I  had 
worked  hard  and  put  it  mostly  into  this  place.  And  having  it 
improved  enough  for  practical  use,  I  wanted  to  prove  up  and 


148  Building  a  Home. 


get  a  patent  for  it,  so  as  to  add  to  it  au  adjoining  quarter 
section  below,  that  was  vacant. 

I  asked  a  man  to  lend  me  the  necessary  $200  at  one  and  a 
half  per  cent,  a  month  for  the  purpose.  "  Yes,''  he  said,  "  but 
I  must  have  other  security  besides  a  mortgage  on  the  place." 
Yet  I  had  done  $600  to  $700  worth  of  fencing  and  breaking, 
and  $200  or  $300  of  other  work  on  it. 

It  is  about  the  usual  thing  with  homebuilders  to  have  to 
face  a  lawyer  or  doctor's  bill  of  $250  or  more — for  a  week's 
service  of  mal-practice,  backed  by  the  ring  courts — at  this 
stage  of  the  struggle,  or  before,  when  it  takes  $5  worth  of  hard 
earned  property  to  get  one  dollar  in  money.  Pause  and 
reflect. 

I  had  escaped  this,  though  I  had  sacrificed  $350  at  one 
time,  and  $250  at  another  to  thieves,  rather  than  undertake  to 
buy  justice  of  the  court  gang.  So  was  able  to  borrow  $200  (of 
another  money-lender)  to  prove  up  and  deed  the  land,  which  I 
did  and  filed  a  homestead  claim. 

Then,  having  built  a  log  house,  16x22  feet,  corral,  sheds, 
hen-house,  etc.,  on  the  best  building  place,  at  the  lower  spring 
in  the  spring  gulch  before  noted,  and  just  on  this  homestead 
claim,  we  moved  there  September,  1875. 

The  320  acres  contain  160  acres  of  arable  land,  the  rest 
being  either  timber,  steep  or  rocky,  but  all  good  for  pasture. 

What  good  rail  timber  was  handy  had  mostly  been  cut 
and  hauled  many  miles  away,  so  I  had  to  go  as  far  as  six  or 
seven  miles  back  in  the  mountain  for  my  future  supply.  But 
I  had  good  teams  now  and  wagon,  was  practically  free  of 
debt,  had  means  to  employ  help,  was  otherwise  so  much  better 
fixed  lo  get  along  than  at  the  outset,  and  there  being  no  more 
insect  pest,  that  we  just  loped  right  along  and  ahead  of  the 
country. 

Columbia  County  was  formed  out  of  Walla  Walla  County 
this  fall.  And  as  there  was  now  about  200  settlers  this  side  of 
Tu-Canyon,  they  started  a  town  in  it  ("  Marengo  "),  made  an 
effort  to  build  and  own  a  grist-mill,  and  vote  the  county  seat  to 
this  place.  They  lacked  the  votes  necessary  to  get  the  capital, 
but  money  and  work  was  generally  subscribed  by  these  poor 


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(149) 


150  Building  a  Home. 


half-housed,  mortgaged  settlers  to  build  the  costly  mill  as  a 
joint  stock  concern. 

Here  was  a  chance  for  some  brethren  having  secret  influ- 
ence at  court,  to  get  control  and  engage  in  a  swindle.  Of  course 
they  did,  and  did  nothing  but  manage  the  business  against  the 
victims,  and  grasp  for  money. 

The  mine  was  equal  to  what  would  be  a  moderate  lawyer 
or  doctor's  fee  for  each  outside  investor. 

Fbom  the  Press,  Seven  or  Eight  Years  from  the  Beginning. 

"  The  Marengo  mill  difficulty  lias  at  last  been  arranged.  The 
remaining  indebtedness  of  the  concern  has  been  raised  among  the 
unfortunate  ones  who  signed  the  notes,  although  it  will  nearly  break 
up  a  number  of  our  best  farmers  to  pay  the  amount  subscribed." 

Also. — "Mrs.  "W.  S is  very  sick.     It  is  doubtful  if  she  will 

recover.  She  is  destitute,  all  her  means  of  support  having  gone  to 
furnish  whiskey  and  other  luxuries  for  some  of  the  Marengo  mill 
thieves." 

Some  got  very  indignant  at  me  for  refusing  to  take  any 
stock  in,  and  for  ridiculing  this  scheme.  One  of  whom  after- 
wards skipped  across  the  British  line  and  started  a  masonic 
newspaper  with  his  plunder. 

After  the  hard  winter  of  1874-5,  common  stock  cows  fell 
to  $10,  and  the  remnants  of  bands  left  by  the  winter  were  sold 
very  cheap.  Even  stock  men  were  breaking  up  now  and  leav- 
ing the  country  in  disgust.  Horses,  however,  were  more  re- 
garded, so  one  was  no  longer  laughed  at  in  reply  to  an  offer  to 
trade  them  for  cattle. 

I  thought  this  the  time  to  buy  cattle,  and  in  the  following 
winter  bought  twelve  good  milch  cows  at  $20  each,  making 
15  in  all  besides  their  calves,  and  soon  had  a  fine  band  of  cattle. 

In  1876  I  threshed  1,000  bushels  of  wheat  and  barley  (and 
had  lots  of  other  produce)  being  the  first  grain  I  threshed  with 
a  machine.  It  was  the  first  time  I  could  get  one,  or  a  thresh- 
ing crew ;  and  now  had  to  go  eight  miles  to  do  so  after  em- 
ploying every  settler  and  land  hunter  in  my  settlement.  And 
had  to  take  a  ten  horse  power  outfit  that  took  three  and  a  half 
days  time  a,nd  pay,  all  around,  to  do  the  one  days  work,  and 
leave  one-third  of  the  grain  in  the  straw.  The  ground  yielded 
thirty  to  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre. 


The  "France  Settlement."  151 

And  for  the  ensuing  six  or  eight  months  A-No  1  wheat 
and  barley  would  not  sell  for  more  than  25  cents  a  bushel  any- 
where in  the  county,  or  in  Walla  Walla  county  either. 

"  Never  before  have  I  heard  so  much  talk  about  hard  times.  The 
general  question  now  is,  is  your  grain  attached  ?  There  having  been 
several  attachments  in  this  part.  Cannot  the  merchants  avoid  heajung 
costs  [say  $150  each]  on  the  already  overburdened  farmer  until  he  can 
market  his  wheat  ?  " 

Later. — "It  is  asserted  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  that  there  is  not 
money  enough  in  the  county  to  pay  its  territorial  tax,  and  we  noticed 
four  dei3uty  sheriffs  rustling  for  county  taxes.  One  of  these  rustlers,  but 
a  short  time  since,  was  loud  in  his  denunciations  against  having  the  stock 
sacrificed  to  get  tax  money,  but  he  struck  a  happy  thought,  so  he  wrote 
to  the  sheriff  for  a  dejjutyship  and  obtained  the  same.  About  the  first 
man  he  struck  shamed  him  off  of  his  place.  Property  must  be  sold  for 
taxes  if  buyers  are  to  be  fonnd,  and  if  not,  then  the  county  will  have  to 
collapse.  We  were  told  that  one  of  the  county  commissioners  said  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  pay  his  taxes. " 

However,  I  was  fixed  to  pay  my  harvest  and  other  ex- 
penses without  selling  my  grain  for  25  cents  a  bushel,  and 
found  a  market  at  Lewiston  that  winter  for  the  wheat  at  45 
and  50  cents  a  bushel,  and  barley  at  $1.25  per  hundred  pounds ; 
the  latter  delivered  at  Fort  Lapwai,  twelve  miles  beyond. 
Don't  know  what  it  cost  the  Government,  lohich  should  buy  direct 
from  the  producer. 

I  induced  the  ferryman  (Mr.  Piercy)  to  cross  my  four-horse 
outfit  over  the  river  for  $2  a  round  trip.  I  believe  this  was  the 
first  crop  of  grain  ever  ferried  across  Snake  river. 

There  was  no  one  living  on  the  road  at  the  time  from  one 
and  a  half  miles  beyond  my  place  to  Lewiston,  or  between  that 
place  and  Fort  Lapwai.  I  had  before  made  the  first  wagon 
tracks  from  my  place  to  within  five  or  six  miles  of  Lewiston. 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1876  there  was  quite  a 
large  immigration  in  this  country,  and  the  vacated  claims  about 
us  were  again  taken  and  many  new  ones  located. 

And  settlement  to  farm  was  commenced  in  the  "Dead- 
man,"  "  Meadow  Gulch"  and  "  New  York  Gulch"  sections,  lying 
west  of  the  lower  Alpowa  and  south  and  east  of  Snake  river, 
and  north  of  the  stage  road  and  the  Pataha  creek.     I  believe 


152  Building  a  Home. 


the  first  grain  raised  in  this  section  was  in  1878,  after  which 
time  it  was  mainly  settled. 

Two  miners  on  the  way  from  the  Idaho  mines  had  perished 
from  the  cold,  or  been  killed  for  their  dust  at  the  head  of 
Deadman  hollow  and  creek  near  the  road— hence  the  name  of 
"  Deadman."      The  gulch  and  stream  are  about  25  miles  long. 

And  settlement  to  farm  was  commenced  in  the  Asotin 
country  to  the  south-east.  As  it  was  also  on  the  bench  or 
plateau  lands  about  Lewiston,  1876. 

With  this  immigration  and  these  settlements,  a  town-site 
("Columbia  Centre  ")  was  located  four  and  a  half  miles  west  of 
my  place,  on  this  new  road,  at  the  forks  of  the  Pataha,  and  a 
steam  saw-mill,  grist-mill,  store  and  blacksmith  shop  set  up. 
And  the  towns  of  Pomeroy  and  Pataha  City  on  the  creek  lower 
down  were  started — each  with  a  grist-mill,  store  and  blacksmith 
shop,  1876-7. 

All  of  these  places  were  between  our  place  and  Tu-Canyon, 
which  up  to  this  time  had  to  be  climbed  over  on  the  way  to  the 
mills,  stores,  graneries,  etc.,  of  "  Egypt." 

A  grist-mill  was  also  built  at  Lewiston,  1876-7.  Asotin 
City  was  laid  out  at  the  mouth  of  Asotin  creek  on  Snake  river, 
1878  ;  is  now  the  capital  of  Asotin  county. 

Sometimes  immigrants  settle  in  family  or  little  contracted 
sectarian  groups,  each  grovelling  close  within,  averse  to  each 
other,  the  people  and  the  world  — as  in  a  strange  and  foreign 
land,  so  that  a  full  and  general  neighborhood  meeting  and 
greeting  of  a  Sunday  is  never  seen.  While  others  of  a  more 
travelled  and  expansive  turn,  yearn  to  encompass  broader 
fields.  The  one  as  insects  whose  world  is  but  a  single  leaf. 
The  other  as  comprehensive  man,  whose  visions  see  and  com- 
prehend the  whole  tree  and  forest. 

Yet  by  the  sting  of  an  insect,  man  may  die,  and  by  their 
multitude  forests  be  destroyed. 

In  the  spring  of  1877  the  settlers  in  this  "  France  Settle- 
ment" had  a  schoolhouse  meeting,  at  which  we  agreed  on  a 
location  for  the  proposed  school  house  ;  subscribed  the  neces- 
sary lumber,  other  material  and  work.  And  afterwards  met 
from  day  to  day,  and  built  the  best  school  house  except  one,  I 
believe,  then  in  the  county. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

An  Indian  war. — Neighboring  Indians  go  on  the  war-path. — The  reason. 
— Description  of  their  domain. — Their  horses  and  cattle. — "A  job  on 
Uncle  Sam." — How  they  plead  for  their  country. — "Earth  governed 
by  the  sun, "  etc. — Whom  they  killed.  — How  they  marched  and  fought. 
— Settlers  either  stampede  or  gather  in  fortresses. — Efforts  made  by 
men  to  have  other  tribes  break  out. — For  plunder. — Wliat  an  Indian 
must  do  to  become  a  citizen. — How  Indian  claims  are  jumped. — What 
the  Indian  was  before  the  advent  of  the  Whites. — Their  government, 
pursuits,  etc. — What  fire-arms  and  whiskey  did  for  them. — How  they 
started  fire,  lived  and  died.  Their  religion. — How  to  improve  the 
Indian. — "A  cry  of  the  soul  " 

i  HE  summer  of  1877  Chief  Joseph  and  his  band  of  Nez-Perce 
Indians,  joined  by  White  Bird  and  Looking  Glass  with  their 
bands  of  the  same,  went  on  the  warpath  against  Gen'l  Howard 
and  his  army,  assisted  by  Generals  Gibbons  and  Miles  with 
their  troops.  The  Indians  numbered  less  than  three  hundred 
men,  besides  their  women  and  children.  They  were  non-treaty 
Indians,  and  each  band  owned  separate  tracts  of  country. 
Their  country  had  been  bartered  to  the  Government  many 
years  before  by  a  chief,  who  was  not,  however,  recognized  as 
such  by  this  portion  of  the  tribe.  They  denounced  the  trans- 
action as  fraudulent,  and  could  never  be  induced  to  receive  any 
portion  of  the  stipulated  annuities  or  pay. 

The  Government  had  built  a  grist-  and  saw-mill,  and 
established  an  agency,  and  fenced  and  broke  for  them  patches 
of  land.  But  they  were  not  to  be  deljided  into  civilization,  and 
be  governed  by  ring  agents  in  any  such  way. 

They  could  see  nothing  in  the  mode  and  vexation  of  living, 
as  practiced  by  the  ignoble  poor  and  ignorant  of  the  Whites,  to 
cause  in  them  any  desire  to  become  similarly  situated.  They 
believed  white  men  and  their  agents  to  be  vile,  grasping, 
treacherous,  tricky  and  mighty  uncertain.  And  the  chiefs  de- 
clared, that  their  people  could  not  be  educated  to  successfully 
compete  with  them,  and  combat  their  whiskey  and  contagious 
and  loathsome  diseases. 

As  it  was,  they  were  healthy,  well  to  do  in  their  way,  happy 

(153) 


154  An  Indian  War. 


contented  and  free,  and  liad  leisure  from  toil.  They  could  not 
see  more  for  them  in  civilization.  They  could  not  expect  to 
achieve  for  their  race,  that  which  a  great  majority  of  the  white 
race  were  ever  struggling  and  toiling  for,  but  failed  to  possess 
and  enjoy. 

Joseph's  band  consisted  of  eighty  or  hundred  men,  besides 
their  women  and  children.  I  had  seen  him,  and  talked  with 
many  others  of  his  band ;  and  was  well  acquainted  with  several 
of  his  tribe.  One  of  whom  had  been  to  Washington,  when  they 
were  bartering  off  their  country,  of  which  distinction  he  was 
very  proud.  It  can  easily  be  imagined,  how  the  more  simple 
of  the  Indians  could  be  deluded,  and  the  more  vicious  other- 
wise managed,  by  experts,  employed  but  to  succeed. 

I  suppose  the  records  at  Washington  show  that  every  foot 
of  land  now,  or  ever,  claimed  by  the  Government,  was  honor- 
ably treated  for  and  bought  of  the  Indians.  But,  if  the  race 
was  to-day  strong,  enlightened,  and  had  a  newspaper  press,  to 
work  against  diplomatic  liars,  they  could,  with  any  acknowl- 
edged standard  of  honor  and  law  in  one  hand,  and  a  rifle  in  the 
other,  burst  into  flinders  enough  of  such  titles,  to  give  each 
tribe  a  city  and  a  good-sized  bank  account, — amid  the  plaudits 
of  the  whole  world  ;  when,  perhaps,  they  would  take  more 
kindly  to  civilization. 

A  part  of  Joseph's  coveted  domain  lay  in  my  county,  and, 
extending  into  Oregon,  where  it  mainly  consisted  in  the  high, 
frosty  Willowa  valley,  containing  about  enough  arable  land  for 
each  of  his  band  a  farm,  less  in  extent  than  that  allowed  to 
citizens  under  the  homestead,  pre-emption  and  other  acts.  This 
section  they  used  for  a  sifmmer  range  for  their  herds  of  horses 
and  cattle,  just  what  it  was  best  calculated  for.  The  rest  of 
their  country  was  steep,  rocky,  wild  and  craggy  ;  consisting 
principally  in  a  canyon,  about  2500  feet  deep,  through  which 
runs  the  rapid  Grande  Bonde  river,  which  empties  into  Snake 
river.  Here  is  where  they  lived  in  the  winter  with  their  stock; 
this  canyon  affording  a  good  winter  range  for  them.  There  is 
no  river  bottom  or  arable  land  in  it,  except  a  patch  here  and 
there  of  a  few  acres,  some  of  which  the  Indians  fenced  and  cul- 
tivated. But  it  was  all  a  good  game  country,  and  there  was 
also  good  fishing.      One  could  see  bands  of  deer  feeding  a  mile 


The  Truth  about  Indians.  155 

away,  but  it  might  take  half  a  day  to  ride  to  them,  on  account 
of  some  deep,  steep,  rocky  ravine  intervening.  There  were  also 
mountain  sheep,  elk,  bear  and  other  game. 

I  was  through  this  portion  of  Joseph's  domain,  hunting 
out  a  route  for  a  through  road  from  opposite  Lewiston  to  the 
WU-low-a  country  for  the  county.  Others  with  me,  who  alike 
indignant  and  impressed  with  the  ruggedness  of  it,  declared 
that  "  Joseph  must  be  putting  up  a  job  on  Uncle  Sam,  to  get 
him  to  buy  the  waste,  and  move  him  and  his  people  to  a 
country  more  suitable  even  for  Indians."  But  with  its  good 
winter  and  summer  grazing,  its  good  hunting  and  fishing 
grounds,  its  rapid,  laughing  waters,  and  it  being  an  inheritance 
from  their  fathers  for  many  generations,  it  therefore  just  suited 
Joseph  and  his  band. 

Joseph  portrayed  and  supplicated  with  much  feeling,  in 
exhortation  to  the  grasping  invaders,  how  his  grand  father 
Joseph  had,  on  his  death  bed,  exhorted  and  obligated  his  father 
Joseph  with  a  solemn  injunction,  to  "  keep,  cling  to,  and  hold 
with  his  people  this  their  country,"  and  how,  in  turn,  his  father 
had  laid  the  same  injunction  on  him.  But  they  exhorted  and 
supplicated  in  vain. 

These  Indians  excelled  most  others  in  ability,  appearance, 
living,  dress  and  wealth.  And  they  were  peacefully  disposed 
towards  the  Whites.  I  never  heard  of  them  stealing  anything 
from  even  those  who  were  encroaching  on  their  domain.  But 
the  time  had  come,  when  they  must  forsake  their  country,  go 
on  to  the  reservation,  and  live  as  the  poor,  ignoble  and  ignorant 
white  man  lives,  or  fight ! 

In  pleading  their  cause,  one  of  them  said,  that  "  the  Earth 
was  governed  by  the  sun,"  and  taking  a  piece  of  earth  in  his 
fingers,  crumbled  it  fine,  letting  it  fall  to  the  ground,  saying, 
that  "  rather  than  be  ruled  by  the  treacherous,  grasping  Whites, 
he  would  become  as  that  piece  of  earth;" — dust  to  dust.  And 
he  died,  fighting  for  his  liberty  and  country.  When  war  had 
been  declared  against  them,  they  first  killed  the  men  they  could 
find  who  had  taken  action  for  their  removal  from  their  country, 
about  six. 

When  with  the  bulk  of  their  horses  and  their  families  on 
the  travel  with  them,  they  combatted,  out-generalled  and  out- 


156  An  Indian  War. 


fought  over  1000  soldiers,  citizens  and  officials,  who  were  en- 
gaged against  them,  in  one  way  or  another,  all  summer.  Old 
soldiers,  who  followed  them  all  through  the  campaign  to  the 
surrender  in  Montana,  say,  that  they  were  better  trained  and 
did  fight  and  charge  more  bravely  and  desparately  than  our  re- 
gular or  irregular  troops  ;  that  their  horses  were  trained  to 
stand  alone  under  fire,  while  they  dismounted  and  charged  the 
soldiers  among  the  rocks  and  cliffs ;  and  that  their  systematic 
manoeuvering  and  horsemanship  was  unequalled  anywhere. 
They  would  shoot  under  their  horses'  bellies,  etc.,  while  riding. 
An  Indian  of  another  tribe  told  me,  that  some  of  themselves 
had  horses  trained  to  drop  down  behind  a  bush,  rock,  fallen 
timber,  or  other  obstruction,  when  under  fire  ;  that  he  had  a 
horse  "  that  had  more  sense  than  himself."  And  these  Indians 
never  saw  West  Point. 

Joseph  sternly  opposed  the  committing  of  any  outrages, 
usual  in  war,  against  persons  or  property,  except  as  to  those, 
who  had  or  were  actively  engaged  against  them  ;  for  which,  it 
is  said,  the  more  vicious  of  them  became  rebellious.  That  this 
element  had  a  captive  woman  with  them,  and,  after  some  of 
their  own  women  had  been  killed,  they  killed  her  in  revenge,  or 
that  their  squaws  did  it— the  same,  however,  of  whom  white 
men  frequently  marry  wives,  and,  'tis  said,  they  are  good  and 
true.  That,  after  several  of  their  own  wives  and  children  had 
been  killed,  Joseph  saved,  mounted  on  his  horses,  and  sent 
away  out  of  danger,  women  of  his  enemies,  and  for  which  some 
of  his  men  called  a  counsel  to  kill  him. 

At  the  outset  it  was  unknown  which  way  the  Indians  would 
go  when  attacked,  to  drive  them  to  an  equality  with  the  ring- 
ridden  Whites,  or  what  depredations  they  would  commit  in  re- 
venge. It  was  thought  by  many  that  they  would  raid  through 
our  and  adjoining  settlements ;  a  few  soldiers  were  stationed  at 
a  pass  back  in  the  mountain,  and  for  a  time  nearly  everybody 
in  the  section  about  us,  and  to  the  south-east,  either  left  this 
part  of  the  country,  or  gathered  into  fortresses.  Some  were 
warned  by  Indians  to  leave.  I  was  busy  with  my  work  all  the  time 
and  did  neither.  I  would  sooner  trust  my  home  and  family  to  Jo- 
seph and  his  tribe,  than  to  many  white  men  with  more  secret,  self- 
ish and  hellish  tribal  relations;  as  they  are  more  vile,  cruel  and 


158  An  Indian  War. 


treacherous  than  the  worst  of  savages,  as  will  be  made  manifest 
to  the  most  careless  understanding. 

On  account  of  their  superior  generalship  and  training,  had 
the  different  Indian  tribes  of  this  upper  country  been  so  mind- 
ed, they  could  have  laid  waste  all  the  settlements  in  the 
country,  as  Sheridan  did  the  Shenandoah  valley.  And  secret 
ring-men  tried  to  instigate  and  goad  them  into  a  general  out- 
break, so  as  to  feast  in  the  blood  and  destruction. 

While  a  peaceable  chief  (Moses)  with  good  record  and 
principle,  was  continually  riding  from  one  of  his  bands  to  an- 
other, to  pacify,  prevent  and  hold  them  from  rising  to  join 
Joseph,  White  Bird  and  Looking  Glass  in  their  revenge,  jobs 
were  put  up  on  him,  and  he  was  thrown  into  prison  by  the 
gang,  backed  by  a  servile  press ;  just  as  they  do  with  other 
outsiders  who  are  in  their  way,  or  to  grasp  their  money. 

It  does  not  appear  that  either  General  Howard  or  the 
Secretary  of  the  Interior  were  in  with  this  job  ;  as  to  which  I 
herewith  give  an  extract  from  the  official  report  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Interior  at  Washington,  dated  1879. 

"  There  never  was  any  trustwortliy  information  in  possession  of  this 
department,  to  justify  any  suspicion  as  to  the  conductor  intentions  of  this 
Indian  chief  (Moses),  on  the  contrary,  he  is  known  to  have  rendered  good 
service  during  the  Bannock  trouble,  in  maintaining  peace  and  good  order 
among  the  Indians  under  his  influence.  But  the  efforts  to  take  his  life, 
or  at  least  his  liberty,  or  drive  him  into  hostihties,  appeared  to  be  so  per- 
sistent, that  it  required  the  most  watchful  and  active  interposition  on  the 
part  of  the  Government  to  prevent  a  conflict.  On  several  occasions  I 
requested  the  Governor  and  General  Howard  to  personally  interfere  and 
protect  Moses." 

And  it  is  further  declared  that  by  Moses'  efforts  a  general 
Indian  war  was  prevented. 

In  Indian  campaigns  the  transportation  and  supply 
accounts  are  immense,  (though  the  common  soldier  often  fares 
no  better  than  the  Indian  warrior  without  any  paid  quarter- 
masters' department),  and  the  plunder  therein  is  a  big  object 
to  secret  brethren. 

"  General  Crook  was  asked  if  the  present  campaign  would  put 
an  end  to  Indian  outbreaks  in  Arizona.  He  answered  with  a 
smile:  *I  know  and  you  know  that  a  great  many  people  make 


The  Truth  about  Indians.  159 

money  out  of  Indian  troubles.     These  same  people  exercise  con- 
siderable influence  in  control  of  the  Indians.' " 

The  Nez-Perce  Indians  were  rich  in  horses  and  cattle,  and 
in  land  to  sustain  and  enlarge  them.  Some  of  them  owned  one 
or  two  thousand  horses.  And  among  them  were  race  horses, 
equal  to  those  bred  by  their  white  neighbors,  and  which  they 
would  frequently  beat  on  a  track  for  coin. 

Several  companies  of  volunteers  went  to  assist  General 
Howard  and  Co.  in  fighting  these  Indians,  and  they  captured  a 
good  many  horses  and  cattle.  Every  few  days  during  the  cam- 
paign some  of  them  would  pass  my  place  with  a  band  of  Indian 
horses,  and  all  covered  with  glory  and  dust.  These  bands 
numbered  from  a  dozen  to  150  head.  Three  men  stayed  at  my 
place  one  night  with  125  of  Joseph's  cattle.  They  thought  the 
Indians  had  more  stock  and  land  than  they  needed.  And  men 
who  had  never  earned  a  dollar  by  work  in  their  lives,  and  would 
steal  and  ravage  before  they  ever  would  work,  exclaimed,  that 
"  the  Indians  should  he  made  to  ivork  !  " 

To  know  and  comprehend  human  character  of  each  sort 
correctly,  it  must  be  realized  that  there  are  widely  different 
elements  and  dispositions  in  each  race,  tribe  and  even  family. 
That  there  are  but  individuals,  or  a  comparatively  small 
element  of  the  Indians,  that  will  flay  alive  a  captive  because  he 
belongs  to  a  hostile,  grasping  race.  And  we  should  show  them 
that  there  are  but  individuals,  or  a  small  element  of  Whites, 
who  glory  in  killing  their  women  of  any  tribe,  and  in  dashing 
out  the  brains  of  their  children  on  the  rocks,  or  who  kill  Indians 
whenever  they  find  them  alone  and  defenseless,  just  because 
some  other  of  their  race  had,  perhaps,  committed  a  similar  out- 
rage on  some  one  dear  to  them  long  before. 

And  let  us  look  to  those  of  virtuous  pretentions,  in  high 
station,  who  directly  and  indirectly  practice,  with  impunity, 
heartless  cruelties  and  traitorous  prostitutions — deeds  of  dark- 
ness that  would  make  a  savage  blush ! 

"  To  become  a  citizen,  the  Indian  must  make  affidavit  before 
some  qualified  person,  that  he  has  severed  his  tribal  relations.  He 
must  also  bring  two  witnesses,  to  testify  that  he  has  severed  such 
relations." 


160  An  Indian  War. 


Why  is  it  that  they  are  denounced,  plundered  and  killed 
for  clinging  to  their  tribal  relations  and  government,  and  re- 
quired to  renounce  that  first,  before  they  can  be  citizens  with 
us  in  our  Government ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  we  sufi'er  sworn 
subjects  of  more  secret  and  selfish  tribal  governments  to  pass 
as  full-fledged  citizens,  and  to  hold  office  and  prostitute  our 
Government,  to  rob  us  and  the  Indian  with  impunity  ? 

"  Sitting  Bull  is  evidently  a  very  observant  Indian.  He  de- 
clares, that,  if  affairs  continue  on  in  the  same  groove,  the  Indians 
wlQ  not  have  ground  enough  left,  upon  which  to  stretch  their 
tepees  and  rest  their  limbs,  and  that  they  will  have  to  pay  taxes 
and  be  as  poor  and  ragged  as  pale-faces." 

As  follows. — "  A  delegation  of  Indians  came  up,  on  their  way 
to  Fort  Walla  Walla,  for  a  conference  with  the  commanding 
officer,  concerning  the  jumping  of  theii*  land  The  Indian  whose 
land  has  been  confiscated  is  very  intelligent.  It  seems  that  he 
had  a  small  place  under  cultivation,  with  fence,  house  and  stable. 
The  jumper  has  filed  on  the  land,  and  now  requests  the  dusky  Sis- 
Mow  to  hiack  datawa,  or  he  will  blow  off  the  top  of  his  head. 

Siskiow  remarks  that  he  is  not  as  young  as  he  used  to  be,  or 
he  should  not  allow  the  jumper,  or  any  other  man,  to  scare  him 
out  of  house  and  home.  He  has  concluded  to  have  a  talk  with  the 
commanding  officer  and  the  land  agent  at  Walla  Walla,  and  fijid 
out  whether  he  has  any  rights  a  Boston  man  is  bound  to  respect." 

*'  This  place  was  the  scene  of  the  misunderstanding  last  spring 
between  the  Whites  and  Indians,  which  looked  as  if  it  might  prove 
serious.  It  seems  but  little  encouragement  for  Indians  to  try  and 
adopt  the  habits  of  their  '  civilized '  brothers,  by  locating  and  cul- 
tivating their  land,  if  they  are  liable  to  lose  it  any  time  their  im- 
provements are  worth  the  taking." 

While  we  are  enjoying  the  fame,  glory,  plunder  and  victory 
over  these  poor,  damned,  friendless  Indians,  let  us  at  least  con- 
cede to  them  the  skill  and  the  bare,  fruitless  sentiment  of 
patriotism  and  valor  that  is  due  them. 

"  Slowly  and  sadly  they  climb  the  distant  mountain  and 
read  their  doom  in  the  setting  sun." 

Intelligent  old  Indians,  of  different  tribes,  tell  me  that  they 
were  very  numerous  in  the  north-west  before  the  advent  of  the 


The  Truth  about  Indians.  161 

Whites.  That  they  were  healthy,  vigorous,  and  endowed  with 
fine  constitutions,  and  were  not  on  the  decline. 

The  principal  trouble  with  them  was  that  they  gloried  in 
war  and  plunder,  one  tribe  with  another,  and  battles  in  which 
1,000  or  more  Indians  were  killed,  are  related.  The  smaller 
tribes  would  often  combine  to  fight  a  stronger  one,  such  as  the 
Sioux,  as  do  civilized  nations.  And  their  great  war  chiefs  were 
glorified  as  those  of  the  Whites  are  to-day. 

It  does  not  aj^pear,  however,  that  they  were  quarrelsome 
or  criminally  disposed  within  the  tribes,  and  jDeace  and  justice 
were  maintained  without  prisons  or  taxes,  or  much  trouble  or 
pain. 

They  cultivated  no  habit  or  taste  that  could  not  be  easily 
supplied  to  all.  They  enjoyed  and  had  leisure  for  the  hunt,  as 
much  as  an  English  lord.  They  appear  to  have  been  more 
happy,  and  have  gotten  as  much  good  out  of  life  as  do  the  ring- 
ridden,  toiling  masses  of  the  Whites.  The  introduction  of  fire- 
arms among  them,  first  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Fur  ComjDany,  in- 
augurated a  more  peaceful  era  among  the  Indians,  as  the  more 
destructive  war  machines  have  done  among  the  civilized 
nations.  But  the  whiskey,  diseases  and  vices  of  the  Whites 
have  proved  far  more  fatal  to  them  than  their  wars.  Con- 
sumption, deadly  fevers,  diphtheria,  small-pox,  measles,  scro- 
fula, and  more  loathsome  diseases  are  said  to  have  been  un- 
knoicn  to  tJie  Indian  until  they  had  hioion  civilization. 

Nor  did  they  have  any  medical  colleges  or  dollar-a-mile 
doctors.  A  steam  bath  in  their  "  sweat  house  "  was  a  remedy 
for  about  all  their  illness.  They  had  no  taste  for  salt  and  used 
none ;  nor  tobacco,  opium,  etc.  They  Parted  fires  with  punk 
and  friction.  The  whirling  of  a  hard  stick  set  on  to  punk,  by 
looping  the  stick  in  a  bow  string,  will  soon  produce  fire. 

The  greater  part  of  the  country  west  of  the  Missouri  river 
is  more  adapted  to  the  raising  of  buffalo,  deer,  elk,  goat,  bear, 
rabbit,  and  other  game,  and  horses,  than  for  anything  else. 
And  before  the  advent  of  civilization  — that  slaughtered  them 
off  for  their  pelts,  and  the  sport  (?)  of  hunting  down,  maiming, 
killing,  and  seeing  God's  beautiful  creatures  suffer,  quiver,  and 
die  — there  was  a  great  abundance  of  such  food  supply.  Deer 
was  as  easily  caught  as  sheep  are  now,  and  destroyed  the 
11 


162  An  Indian  War. 


crops  of  the  first  settlers  on  Puget  Sound.  This  great  natural 
food  supply — together  with  the  fish,  clams,  berries,  roots,  and 
seeds  that  made  a  rich  flour,  afforded  food  in  great  abundance, 
more  healthy  and  better  than  that  had  by  millions  of  the 
children  of  boasted,  flaunted  civilization,  with  all  their  endless 
toil,  diseases,  vexation,  sorrow  and  vices. 

And  by  a  little  care  and  regulation  this  natural  God-given 
food  and  clothing  supply  could  have  been  increased  to  support 
a  population — dressed  in  seal-skin  and  martin,  instead  of  calico 
and  dungaree — as  dense  as  in  the  present  toiling,  vexatious  and 
vicious  way. 

It  seems  that  even  in  Europe  it  has  been  found  the  best 
economy  to  raise  game  instead  of  grain.  Grasshoppers,  un- 
seasonable weather,  fashion,  the  prosperity  of  others,  had  no 
terrors  for  the  Indians,  and  they  knew  not  suicide  or  insanity. 

Thus  did  the  red  man  live— able  to  spurn  common  toil  like 
a  prince,  enjoying  the  sports  of  the  chase  like  a  nobleman,  the 
glories  of  war  like  a  Bonaparte,  Hannibal,  and  Grant.  And 
had  leisure  for  study  and  that  rest,  that  the  "Whites  can  only 
hope  and  pray  for  in  heaven.  This  thing,  called  civilization 
indeed!  has  proved  to  be  a  humbug  to  every  people  in  the 
history  of  the  world  that  have  tried  it  very  long,  so  that  they 
either  calLed  a  halt,  like  the  Chinese,  or  perished  like  the 
Indian  under  the  ban. 

As  to  the  religion  of  the  Indian  before  the  advent  of  the 
Whites,  it  appears  to  have  been  similar  to  that  of  the  Chinese 
from  whence  the  race  is  believed  by  themselves  to  have  come 
(crossing  Behring  Strait,  or  by  the  Islands).  It  is  a  sort  of 
Spiritualism — that  all  animals  have  immortal  spirits.  It  is  in 
accordance  with  the  same  that  they  had  their  favorite  or 
attached  horses,  etc.,  killed  at  their  death,  believing  that  the 
attachment  and  association  of  these  spirits  —man  and  horse, 
etc.  —before  death  would  continue  after  death  in  some  form  if 
freed  of  the  body  by  its  death. 

They  worshipped  the  sun,  etc.,  as  great  sources  or  main- 
springs of  life  and  goodness,  as  some  Christian  people  do  the 
"  harvest  moon." 

They  say  as  to  their  belief  in  an  intelligent  supreme  ruling 
power,  a  living  God,  "  great  spirit,"  "  happy  hunting  ground," 


The  Truth  about  Indians.  165 

or  any  comprehensive  future  existence,  that  this  is  all  an  in- 
vention of  the  Whites. 

Like  so  many  of  the  Whites,  the  religious  belief  of 
most  of  the  Indians  is  very  vague,  and  they  are  ready  to 
change  it  for  anything  else  that  will  give  them  cash  or  in- 
creased happiness  in  hand. 

If  the  Indians  are  to  be  benefitted  by  the  better  element  of 
civilization,  they  must  be  dealt  with  more  honestly  by  the 
Government,  and  protected  against  the  depravity  of  the  worst 
elements,  masonic  agents,  etc.,  or  else  be  permitted  to  protect 
themselves  against  the  lurking  serpents.  And  the  same  can 
well  be  said  as  ifco  the  simplest  and  artless  of  the  white  race 
also. 

A   CRY   OF   THE  SCUL. 


"  I  have  read  in  tlie  lore  of  long  ago 
How  a  symbol  of  our  life  below 
Is  a  boat  with  palsied  men  to  row, 
And  a  blind  man  at  tlie  rudder  ; 
Or  a  pensive,  mild-eyed  moiher  of  kine 
That  roots  and  grubs  in  the  ground  like  swine, 
With  a  serpent  at  the  udder. 

O  shaven  priest,  that  pratest  of  souls, 
Knowest  thou  not  that  men  are  moles 

That  blindly  grope  and  burrow  ? 
The  field  that  is  gray  shall  be  green  again. 
Biit  whether  with  grass  or  whether  with  grain 
He  knoweth  who  turns  the  furrow  ! 

It  is  only  a  stop  from  ci'adle  to  grave. 

And  the  step  must  be  taken  by  kuight  and  knave. 

By  stuiiid  alike  and  clever  ; 
For  sleep  is  a  death  that  lasts  but  a  night. 
And  death  is  a  sleep  when  the  lips  are  white. 

And  open  no  more  forever. 

O  poet,  be  still,  with  thy  maudlin  verse  ; 
For  singing  of  love,  when  love  is  a  curse, 

Neither  mars  the  thing  nor  mends  it  ; 
And  sure  as  death  and  sleej)  are  twins, 
So  life  in  mystery  begins. 
And  another  mystery  ends  it ! 


164  An  Indian  War. 


And  lie  wbo  only  sleejss  for  a  night, 

Though  never  before  were  his  dreams  so  bright, 

Shall  surely  awaken  wilh  the  light 

To  another  day  of  sorrow  ; 
So  better  by  far  the  sleep  of  the  dead, 
For  the  sleeper  that  sleeps  it  need  not  dread, 
Though  hard  be  the  pillow  beneath  his  head, 

The  doom  of  a  sad  to-morrow. 

Ah,  life  is  a  riddle  that  none  can  guess  ; 
And  whether  it  curse,  or  whether  it  bless. 

Depends  on  no  endeavor  ; 
For  the  spider  of  fate,  with  a  thousand  eyes. 
Sits  weaving  its  web  for  human  flies  ; 

And  the  flies  buzz  ou  forever  ! 

And  the  wolf  of  hunger,  gaunt  and  grim, 
Full  often  stojjs  at  the  door  of  him 

Who  was  cradled  in  bliss  and  splendor. 
And  the  wolf  of  sin  and  the  wolf  of  woe 
Lie  iu  wait  for  souls  that  are  white  as  snow, 

For  the  spider  of  fate  is  theii*  sender. 

And  the  king,  who  lifted  his  hand  to  slay. 
And  the  priest  whose  blue  lips  tried  to  pray, 
And  the  beggar  in  rags,  who  begged  his  way, 

All  beaten  and  brown  with  the  weather  ; 
And  the  poet,  who  sang  his  song  so  sweet 
That  the  maiden  knelt  and  kissed  his  feet. 
While  he  wi-apped  her  about  with  her  winding  sheet, 

They  are  all  rank  grass  together. 

And  the  greener  the  grass  on  graves,  'tis  said. 
The  surer  its  roots  to  be  damp  and  dead, 

For  both  have  a  common  mother  ; 
And  death  is  a  rest,  and  death  is  a  spell; 
And  life  is  heaven,  and  life  is  hell, 

But  each  completes  the  other. 

Ah,  true  was  the  myth  of  long  ago, 
That  a  symbol  of  our  life  below 
Is  a  boat  with  palsied  men  to  row, 
And  a  blind  man  at  the  rudder  ; 
For  life  is  a  pensive  mother  of  kine. 
That  roots  and  grubs  in  the  ground  like  swine, 
With  a  serpent  at  the  udder." 


OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Indians,  conlinued.—Ch.iei  Joseph.— White  Bird.— Looking  Glass,  and  In- 
dians generally.— The  Wliite  Bird  fight.— These  Indians  in  early- 
days. — Their  flocks,  herds  and  fine  farms. — The  result  of  the  war  to 
the  Indians.  — "Cold-blooded  treacheiy.'" — How  cJiief  Josej^h  treated 
white  prisoners.— "Tlie  glory  of  the  West."— Col.  Steptoe's  defeat.— 
"For  God's  sake,  give  me  something  to  kill  myself  with."  The  others 
saved  by  other  Indians.— An  ingrate.- Col.  Wright's  victory.- 690 
horses  butchered. — How  Wright  treated  Indian  prisoners. — "The 
Chief  Moses  outrage."— $70,000,000  squandered  by  the  gang. 

Will  resume  as  to  the  Nez-Perce,  or  Joseph,  White  Bird 
and  Looking  Glass  outbreak,  and  Indian  affairs  generally,  by 
condensing  from  the  press. 

The  White  Bird  Fight,  near  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho,  ]877. 
''  When  the  Indians  attacked  Col.  Perry  with  about  fifty  men, 
they  expected  to  be  repulsed,  and  then  fall  back  about  a  mile 
where  was  their  reserve  force  of  about  sixty,  entrenched  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  the  troops,  as  they  pursued  the  advance 
skirmish  on  their  retreat.  But  their  advance  never  had  \o  retreat, 
for  Col.  Perry  and  the  troops  fled  in  precipitancy  almost  at  the 
first  fire,  and  never  did  stop  until  they  had  gone  four  miles  up  the 
canyon.  The  Indian  reserve  never  came  into  the  fight,  except  a 
few  old  squaws,  who,  on  seeing  the  soldiers  in  flight,  followed 
close  up,  to  plunder  the  dead.  They  were  frightened  at  the  first 
volley  discharged  in  their  direction,  and  Col.  Perry  was  determined 
to  save  his  own  scalp  by  flight.  So  demoralized  was  he,  that  he 
said,  he  kept  one  charge  in  his  revolver  in  order  to  shoot  himself, 
in  case  the  Indians  were  about  to  capture  him.  He  had  rode  down 
one  horse  and  took  another,  belonging  to  a  soldier;  and  had* not 
W.  B.  Bloomer,  a  citizen,  notified  him  of  his  danger  of  annihila- 
tion, he  would  have  rushed  into  Rocky  canyon  and  been  slaughter- 
ed. Bloomer  called  to  him  to  stop,  when  Perry  says  to  him,-"then 
■you  lead  the  way  out  of  this." 

But  Lieutenant  Theller  gathered  six  or  eight  soldiers  around 
him,  and  stood  off  the  Indians  and  fought  them  until  every  man 
of  his  squad,  including  himself,  was  shot  down.  And  for  eleven 
days  Col.  Perry's  dead  soldiers  lay  mortifying  in  the  hot  sun  on 
the  field  of  battle,  while  the  Colonel  [a  mason]  and  his  fleeing 

(165) 


166  Indians,  Continued. 


force  were  at  Cottouwood  in  good  quarters,  and  tlie  Indians  had 
left  and  gone  to  Salmon  river  and  across.  The  citizen  volunteers 
buried  Perry's  dead. 

Manuel  lay  concealed  in  the  brush  near  by,  and  personally 
saw  the  Indians,  when  the}'  made  their  breast  works  of  rails,  the 
number  who  were  there,  and  the  number  who  sallied  out  to  meet 
the  soldiers ;  and  he  says  that  not  more  than  fifty  of  the  Indian 
warriors  left  the  breast  works,  and  that  there  were  not  at  anj'  time 
more  than  200  Indians  in  the  hostile  party  at  the  time  of  the 
White  Bird  fight,  and  from  fifty  to  sixty  of  these  were  women  and 
children.  After  the  fight,  when  they  had  their  revelry  over  the 
victory  they  had  gained  over  the  soldiers,  Manuel  was  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  x>arty,  concealed  in  the  brush,  and  could  see  and 
hear  all  that  was  done  and  said.  He  is  willing  to  make  oath  that 
at  that  time  not  more  than  200  men,  women  and  children  were  in 
the  hostile  party. 

Such  are  some  of  the  facts  that  [Mason]  the  pretended  histo- 
rian should  have  embodied  in  his  pretended  history,  instead  of  ex- 
cusing the  commander  [Mason],  who  held  the  key  position  on  the 
hill,  when  the  fighting  commenced,  and  could  have  easily  held  it." 
— ^'Lnvisiton  Telltr." 

"Why  should  the  people  support  a  horde  of  such  loafers  to 
command  real  citizens  of  the  Government  in  time  of  war  ? 

"Chief  Joseph. — By  his  performances  became  entitled  to  be 
recognized  as  one  of  the  remarkable  men  of  the  age.  One  more 
day's  march  would  have  placed  him  inside  the  British  dominions. 
For  four  months  he  had  eluded  his  pursuers,  having  travelled 
more  than  1500  miles  through  the  wildest,  i-ockiest  and  most 
mountainous  region  in  i^merica.  He  had  crossed  ranges,  leaped 
canyons,  and  swam  mountain  torrents;  all  this  while  carrying 
with  him,  on  this  remarkable  flight,  the  women,  children  and 
property  of  his  tribe.  He  had  been  pursued  altogether  by  several 
armies,  any  one  of  which  far  outnumbered  his  force.  He  had 
fought  five  battles  against  an  enemy,  supplied  with  all  the  re- 
sources of  modern  warfare,  and  each  time  he  had  been  practically 
victorious.  Had  he  had  the  least  suspicion  of  Miles'  approach,  it 
is  evident  that  his  fertile  genius  would  have  eluded  his  enemies 
once  more,  and  have  been  able  to  laugh  at  all  their  toil." 

"A  Black  Page  of  History. — In  the  fine  address  delivered 
before  the  Oregon  Pioneers'  Association  by  Col.  Geo.  H.  Curry, 


Indians,  Continued.  167 


we  find  the  following :  On  the  third  day  from  seeing  the  signal 
smoke  [while  immigrating  to  Western  Oregon  in  early  days],  we 
arrived  at  the  rim  of  the  Grande  Ronde  valley.  Looking  down 
upon  this,  the  most  beautiful  valley  in  Oregon,  we  could  see  large 
numbers  of  Indians  riding  over  the  plains.  No  choice  was  left 
us,  friendly  or  warlike,  we  had  to  pass  through  that  valley,  and 
down  the  hill  we  started.  Reaching  the  foot,  we  soon  learned  that 
the  Indians  we  had  seen  were  a  large  band  of  Cayuses  and  Nez- 
Perces,  who,  following  a  custom  taught  them  by  Dr.  Whiteman, 
had  come  this  far,  to  meet  the  immigrants,  trade  with  them,  and 
protect  them  from  the  Snake  Indians.  Here,  for  the  first  time  in 
several  months,  we  felt  safe,  and  went  to  sleep  without  guard, 
leaving  our  hungry  stock  to  feed  at  will  among  the  abundant 
herbage  of  the  Grande  Ronde. 

The  smoke  which  had  caused  so  much  apprehension  was  the 
Nez-Perces'  signal  of  aid.  It  was  the  fiery  banner  of  friendship 
and  succor,  sent  aloft  by  these  dusky  people  to  proclaim  their 
presence  and  good  will. 

The  sad  reflection,  consequent  upon  reading  this  passage,  is, 
that  these  friendly  Indians,  who  protected  the  weary  and  famish- 
ing Oregon  pioneers,  should  have  subsequently  been  the  object  of 
the  most  outrageous,  unjust  and  inhuman  persecution  that  our 
Government  ever  inflicted  upon  the  Indians.  Generals  Howard, 
Gibbons  and  Miles,  who  were  obliged,  under  the  orders  of  the 
Government,  to  execute  Secretary  Schurz's  inhuman  orders  for 
the  ejection  of  the  Nez-Perces  from  their  homes,  unanimously 
testified,  that  these  Indians  had  reached  a  comi^aratively  high 
stage  of  civilization ;  they  had  fiocks  and  herds,  had  fine  farms  j 
were  a  brave,  manly,  spirited  race  of  men,  and  so  humane,  that 
they  forebore  to  murder,  scalp,  or  otherwise  torture  our  wounded, 
that  fell  into  their  hands. 

In  their  retreat  through  our  settlements  they  did  not  mur(?Ier 
or  rob ;  they  paid  for  their  supplies  and  only  asked  a  peaceful 
passage  in  their  flight.  Gen.  Gibbons  describes  Chief  Joseph  as  a 
man  of  high  intelligence,  and  of  superior  military  talent,  whose 
men  were  equal,  man  for  man,  to  our  soldiers,  and  who  out-gene- 
ralled  and  out-fought  us  in  every  fight,  [Why  should  not  such  In- 
dians be  given  commands  in  the  army,  over  the  masons,  in  times 
of  war'?]  When  Chief  Joseph  surrendered  to  General  Miles  on 
honorable  terms,  which  stipulated  that  his  people  should  not  be 
removed  to  Indian    territory.  Secretary   Schurz    disgraced   the 


168  Indians,  Continued. 


Government  by  violating  the  terms  of  surrender,  [but  was  the 
masonic  President  dead  ?]  and  General  Miles  ijever  ceased  to  pro- 
test against  this  outrage.  But  Schurz  persisted  in  removing  them 
to  a  district  in  Indian  territory,  where  the  tribe  died  of  disease, 
like  sheep  with  the  foot  rot. 

The  only  excuse  for  the  Nez-Perce  war  was  that  greedy  men 
wanted  the  splendid  grazing  and  farming  lands  of  the  tribe. 
[There  was  plenty  of  just  as  good  and  better  land  that  was  vacant 
at  that  time  ;  it  was  more  for  the  plunder  of  the  Indians  of  their 
other  property,  and  the  Government,  in  the  furnishing  and  trans- 
portation of  supplies  by  the  gang  that  had  so  much  evil  influence 
at  court,  and  are  sworn  subjects  of  their  secret  mogul  govern- 
ment that  prostitutes  ours.]  So  these  Indians,  who  had  pro- 
tected the  Oregon  pioneers,  who  had  offered  an  asylum  to  settlers 
fleeing  from  the  savages  in  the  Indian  war,  who  had  laid  aside  the 
inhuman  practices  of  scalping  and  torture  of  captives,  [even  while 
the  Government  hired  and  armed  other  Indians  who  did  this 
against  the  Nez-Perc^s],  who  were  rising  steadily  in  the  scale  of 
industrial  and  agricultural  civilization  ;  these  Indians  were  lashed 
and  goaded  into  rebellion,  and  fought  a  heroic  fight  against  our 
soldiers,  who  heartily  sympathized  with  these  brave  men  whom 
they  were  ordered  by  the  cold-blooded  [tools  of  the  gang]  to  shoot 
down  and  evict  from  their  homes.  It  is  the  blackest  picture  in 
the  whole  history  of  the  dealings  of  the  Government  with  the 
Indian  [but  it  is  not  very  far  from  a  fair  sample  of  the  whole], 
and  we  have  no  doubt,  that  the  Oregon  pioneers  who  were  aided 
in  the  Cayuse  war  by  these  Nez-Perees,  agree  with  General 
Gibbons,  who  to  this  day  pronounces  the  Nez-Perce  war  as  a  cruel 
outrage,  contrived  by  [the  gang]  and  executed  by  a  secretary  of 
the  interior,  who  was  as  cold-blooded  and  treacherous  as  the 
meanest  savage  that  ever  wielded  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping 
knife." — Portland  Oregonian. 

Yet  he  was  a  pretty  good  Christian  compared  to  brethren 
who  were  appointed  to  high  offices  out  here. 

^'Arkansas  City,  Kan.,  March  26,  1885. — Information  is 
received  here  that  the  remaining  members  of  the  Nez-Perce 
Indian  tribe,  with  the  noted  Chief  Joseph,  are  to  be  transferred 
from  their  present  reservation  in  Indian  territory,  where  they 
are  dying  by  the  score  from  broken  hearts,  to  their  old  reserva- 
tion in  Idaho.    In  1877,  when  Joseph  and  his  men  went  to  war 


Indians,  Contini-ed.  169 


with  the  Whites,  he  conducted  one  of  the  most  wonderful  marches 
and  succession  of  fights  in  the  annals  of  Indian  warfare,  and 
when,  at  last,  he  surrendered  to  General  Miles  at  Bear  Paw  moun- 
tain, Montana,  in  the  fall  of  1877,  he  was  over  900  miles  from  his 
reservation. 

Chief  Joseph,  at  last,  would  only  throw  down  his  arms  upon 
the  promise  that  he  and  his  tribe  should  be  returned  to  their  old  reser- 
vation. 

And  so  well  were  they  intrenched  behind  stone  fences  and 
breastworks,  that  Miles'  men  could  not  dislodge  them,  and  at  one 
period  of  the  fight,  when  General  Miles  asked  his  command  if 
they  could  not  drive  them  out  by  assault,  they  replied,  '  Charge 
hell !  We  are  not  Sioux  ! '  it  being  generally  known  that  the 
Sioux  were  the  only  Indians  that  would  charge  the  Nez-Perces. 
The  tribe  are  to  be  transferred  to  the  land  of  their  forefathers. 
Of  the  600  men,  women,  and  children,  who  surrendered,  over  300 
have  died  of  broken  hearts,  and  the  only  flourishing  spot  within 
100  miles  of  their  present  reservation  is  their  graveyard,  where 
newly  made  graves  are  to  be  seen  on  all  sides.  Chief  Joseph  has 
cheered  up  his  tribe  by  the  words  that  some  time  the  Great 
Father  at  Washington  [with  the  permission  of  the  gang]  would 
keep  his  word  and  let  them  return  to  their  own  huuting  grounds 
near  the  setting  sun." 

"Chief  Joseph,  the  Nez-Perce,  who.  with  his  tribe,  800 
strong,  of  the  best  fighters  the  United  States  troops  ever  met  in 
field,  canyon  or  ambuscade,  broke  out  in  June,  1877,  and  after  a 
march  of  nearly  2,000  miles,  were  finally  captured  at  Bear  Paw 
mountain,  near  the  British  line,  in  November,  the  same  year,  are 
now  on  their  way  back  to  the  home  they  love  so  well  in  Idaho. 
Of  the  800  who  left  but  250  are  left,  and  of  these  119,  with  Chief 
Joseph,  -^tII  be  taken  to  the  Colville  reservation,  and  the  re- 
mainder will  be  taken  to  Lapwai.  With  the  single  exception  of 
Joseph  himself,  the  Chiefs  of  the  outbreak  are  all  dead,  jliooking 
Glass  was  killed  by  General  Miles'  troops  at  Bear  Paw,  Rainbow 
we  saw  lying  dead  with  a  bullet  through  his  brain  and  his  face  up- 
turned to  the  sky  on  the  Big  Hole  battle-ground ;  he  was  the  fii'st 
Indian  killed  as  he  was  going  out  at  daybreak  to  gather  in  his 
horses.  Tool-hool-hool-suit  was  killed  on  the  same  field  and  his 
body  dug  up  by  Howard's  Bannock  scouts,  scalped,  and  a  general 
war  dance  and  corrobboree  held  over  his  carcass.  Caps-caps,  who 
was  prominent  in  the  Salmon  river  massacre  [?]  is  also  dead, 


170  Indians,  Continued. 


having  been  killed  in  one  of  the  numerous  engagements.  On  the 
surrender,  General  Miles  gave  his  word  to  Jose[)h  that  he  should 
be  returned  to  his  own  country,  but  such  has  been  the  opposition 
of  the  white  people  [who  had  stolen  their  property  and  had  influ- 
ence at  court]  it  has  not  until  now  [when  their  property  is  secured 
beyond  their  reach  so  they  cannot  "  make  trouble  "J  deemed  ad- 
visable to  allow  them  to  return,  and,  hence,  Joseph  will  be  phiced 
on  a  reservation  far  remote  from  the  scene  of  his  depredations. 
Whenever  he  had  the  opportunity,  he  spared  the  lives  of  the 
prisoners  who  fell  into  his  hands,  and  caused  to  be  delivered, 
safely  and  unharmed,  two  ladies,  who  with  their  party  were  at 
the  time  in  Yellowstone  Park.  Joseph  interceded  and  sent  them 
on  their  way  rejoicing,  when  they  had  been  condemned  to  death. 
[I  wonder  whether  these  ladies  did  anything  for  Joseph's  justice 
when  he  was  in  distress.] 

He  has  paid  dearly  for  his  crimes  [?]  the  vengeance  of  aU 
should  be  glutted  by  this  time.''  [Having  got  away  with  their 
homes  and  herds,  and  robbed  the  Government  out  of  big  piles  of 
money ;  yes,  these  gentlemen,  who  "  lashed  and  goaded  them 
into  an  outbreak  "  for  plunder,  might  forgive  them  now,  if  they 
will  forget  it  all  and  say  nothing  about  it.] 

''At  last,  after  waiting  nearly  eight  years,  the  remnant  of 
the  Nez-Perce  tribe,  which  was  transported  to  Indian  territory, 
after  the  surrender  of  Chief  Joseph,  is  to  be  brought  back.  Of 
over  500  persons  that  left,  less  than  half  remain,  the  others  filling 
graves  in  the  land  of  their  exile.  The  story  of  this  exile  is  a 
l^itiful  one,  and  that  they  have  amply  atoned  for  their  crime  [?]  as 
a  tribe  few  will  deny.  Since  their  departure  great  changes  have 
taken  place  in  their  old  homes,  and  their  return  need  cause  no 
alarm,  for  ii^  will  be  a  broken-hearted,  broken-spirited  band, 
filled  only  with  the  desire  to  live  at  peace  with  their  surroundings, 
and  lay  their  bones  in  the  soil  their  ancestors  have  claimed  for 
generations  past."     March,  1885. 

"  The  Nez-Perces  and  Cayuses  were,  by  all  means,  the  great- 
est tribes  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  "Why,  they  used  to 
roam  as  far  east  as  the  Missouri  liver  on  their  hunting  expedi- 
tions, and  if  they  chanced  to  meet  a  war  part}^  of  any  tribe,  they 
were  ready  and  prepared  to  uphold  by  strength  of  ai-ms  the  glory 
of  the  West. 

An  officer  who  fought  in  the  rebellion,  told  me  that  some  of 
the  fiercest  and  most  valiant  fighting  he  ever  engaged  in  was  with 


Indians,  Continued.  171 


the  Xez-Perces.  They,  he  said,  maintained  a  solid  front  in 
battle,  and  fired  and  mauoeuvered  as  if  they  had  been  drilled  by  a 
gradnate  of  West  Point." 

But  they  o«f-manoeuvered  and  ivhipped  such  j^raduates. 

"Story  of  Col.  Steptoe's  Defeat  by  the  Spokane  Indians. 
And  Col.  Wright's  Victory  over  the  Same  and 
THEIR  Horses. 
By  L.,  in  '■Oi'egonian." 

In  the  spring  of  1858,  some  Palouse  Indians  stole  some  stock 
belonging  to  the  Government  from  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Walla 
Walla,  of  which  Lieutenant-Colonel  Steptoe  was  in  command,  at 
the  same  time  certain  complaints  of  disturbances  and  dangers 
caused  by  Indians,  and  suffered  by  miners  in  or  proceeding  to  the 
Colville  mines,  were  also  brought  to  the  same  officer's  notice. 
Two  miners  coming  overland  from  Thompson  river,  British 
Columbia,  to  Colville,  had  fallen  victims  to  the  savage  ferocity  of 
some  natives,  of  what  tribe  it  is  impossible  to  say.  Such  being 
the  case,  Steptoe  judged  it  proper  to  conduct  an  armed  expedition 
to  Colville  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  and  punish  the  murderers 
and  restore  order.  On  his  return  he  "  allowed  "  (Steptoe  was  a 
Southerner)  to  stop  in  at  the  home  of  the  Palouses  and  see  about 
the  stock  they  had  lifted.  The  Palouses  were  not,  on  the  whole, 
very  desirable  neighbors.  If  there  ever  existed  a  people  to  which 
they  might  fairly  be  compared,  it  must  have  been  the  ancient 
Scotch  borderers,  whose  business  was  theft,  and  whose  numbers, 
as  iu  the  case  of  the  Indian  tribe,  were  recruited  from  the  worst 
and  most  desperate  individuals  of  all  the  neighboring  nations. 
Notice  must  here  be  taken  of  the  beginning  of  the  trouble — the 
proposed  government  military  road  from  Walla  Walla  to  Fort 
Benton,  on  the  upper  Missouri.  [This  road  alone  cost  the  Govern- 
ment more  than  would  haA^e  opened  1,000  miles  of  river  naviga- 
tion free  to  the  people,  doAvn  to  the  sea.  And  it  was  not  half 
built.  And  the  Government  spent  ten  times  as  much  on  each  of 
other  roads  that  were  never  even  open  to  travel,  j  The  military 
and  topographical  engineers  had  pronounced  it  practicable,  and 
the  secretary'  of  war  had  ordered  the  survey.  Lieutenant  Mullan 
was  ordered  to  perform  the  work,  and  was  to  have  an  escort  of 
soldiers  from  Walla  Walla.  He  was  to  set  out  in  May,  1858,  but 
so  slow  were  the  motions  of  the  authorities  that  the  Indians  heard 


172  Indians,  Continued. 


of  it,  and  immediately  concluded  that  it  was  but  a  move  designed 
for  taking  away  their  country.  They  became  nervous,  and  their 
spirits  being  preyed  upon  bij  designing  men,  they  combined  for 
resistance. 

It  is  proven  by  good  evidence  that  when  Steptoe  and  his  150 
men  set  out  on  ]May  6, 1858,  to  march  north-east  from  Walla  Walla, 
the  supply  of  ammunition  which  was  intended  to  be  taken,  was 
taken  back  to  the  magazine  because  there  was  no  room  for  it  in 
the  packs  of  the  100  mules.  So  the  men  set  out  with  only  the 
ammunition  carried  in  their  cartridge  boxes.  Hence  occurred  the 
disaster.  The  force  consisted  of  two  howitzers,  five  company 
officers,  and  152  men. 

The  line  of  march  led  through  what  are  now  Columbia  and 
Garfield  counties,  and  the  Snake  river  was  reached  at  Alpowa 
creek,  where  a  small  band  of  Nez-Perces  resided,  whose  chief, 
Timothy — a  Christian  Indian — was  a  firm  friend  of  the  Whites, 
and  who  still  continues  to  live  at  the  spot.  Timothy,  with  three 
warriors,  joined  the  command — a  circumstance  upon  which  de- 
pended the  lives  of  all.  Marching  north,  the  expedition  ap- 
proached four  lakes,  (the  medical  lakes)  where  a  great  body  of 
Indians  were  met,  who  threatened  violence  if  the  troops  did  not 
at  once  turn  back  and  get  out  of  the  country.  It  was  resolved  to 
return  to  WaUa  Walla.  They  broke  camp  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  followed  by  aU  the  noisy  horde  of  savages,  who  seemed 
intent  on  fighting,  and  only  waited  for  the  troops  to  strike  the  first 
blow.  Saltees,  a  Cour  d'Alene  chief,  appeared,  accompanied  by 
Father  Josef,  the  missionary  to  that  tribe,  and  held  a  conference 
with  Steptoe,  the  missionary  interpreting.  The  chief  then  shouted 
something  to  his  followers,  when  Levi,  of  the  Nez-Perces,  struck 
him  on  the  head  with  a  whip  handle,  exclaiming,  "  What  for 
you  tell  Steptoe  you  no  fight,  and  then  say  to  your  men,  wait 
awhile?  You  talk  two  tongues.''  [Getting  civilized  like  a  Governor.] 

Tlie  fight  began  as  the  command  approached  Pine  creek.  Ap- 
proaching this  creek,  the  command  passed  down  a  ravine,  and  on 
reaching  the  stream  the  Indians  commenced  firing  from  the 
brush  on  the  south  side  and  from  various  elevated  points  near  by. 
Lieutenant  Gaston  charged  forward  and  cleared  a  way  to  the 
highlands  southward,  and  the  entire  force  gained  a  commanding 
position.  The  howitzers  were  unlimbered  and  opened  on  the  foe, 
and  one  or  two  charges  were  made.  Two  privates  were  wounded 
and  a  blundering  soldier  killed  a  friendly  Nez-Perce,  mistaking 


Indians,  Continued.  173 


him  for  an  enemy.  Again  the  retreat  was  resumed  and  continued 
through  the  forenoon,  the  Indians  following  closely  and  fighting 
with  the  troops  in  the  rear.  As  long  as  their  ammunition  held 
out  they  were  kept  at  bay,  but  Gaston's  men  having  fired  their  last 
cartridge,  he  (Gaston)  sent  to  Steptoe  requesting  him  to  halt  long 
enough  to  procure  ammunition.  The  request  was  not  granted. 
On  airiving  at  Cache  creek,  word  was  passed  that  Lieutenant 
Gaston  was  killed,  and  the  order  to  halt  was  given.  A  violent 
struggle  took  place  over  his  body,  the  Indians  securing  it.  Tay- 
lor was  killed  there  and  two  privates,  Barnes  and  DeMay,  were 
kiUed  or  mortally  wounded,  and  another  one  was  wounded  by  an 
arrow  from  a  dying  savage.  Lieutenant  Gregg  called  on  the 
main  body  of  troops  for  volunteers  to  relieve  the  rear  guard,  but 
only  ten  men  responded.  He  ordered  them  to  fall  in  behind  him, 
but  looking  back  directly  after,  found  himself  all  alone.  The 
heroic  rear  guard  repulsed  the  Indians,  however,  and  the  com- 
mand went  into  camp  on  the  spot.  Pickets  were  thrown  out,  and 
such  of  the  dead  as  could  be  found  were  buried  here.  The 
howitzers  were  also  buried,  but  the  pack  train  and  provisions  it 
was  decided  to  leave  for  the  Indians,  in  order  to  dela}-  theii* 
pursuit.  The  savages  were  encamped  in  plain  sight  in  the  bottom 
waiting  the  morrow,  when  they  would  make  a  last  onslaught  and 
end  the  contest  with  a  general  massacre.  Their  sentinels  had 
surrounded  the  camp,  and  were  guarding  all  the  avenues  of  exit 
save  one,  which  it  was  not  supposed  the  soldiers  could  traverse. 
But  this  became  their  salvation,  for  the  pass  was  known  by  the 
Nez-Perce,  Timothy,  and  through  it  he  led  the  troops  to  safety. 
But  for  him,  probably,  not  one  of  the  command  would  have 
escaped. 

The  night  was  dark  and  cheerless,  and  when  the  proper  time 
arrived  the  entire  force  mounted  and  followed  the  chief  in  single 
file,  as  noiselessly  as  possible,  through  the  unguarded  pass.  Two 
wounded  soldiers,  McCrossen  and  Williams,  the  one  shot  through 
the  hip,  the  other  mth  his  back  broken,  who,  tied  upon  horses, 
begged  to  be  killed  at  once  rather  than  be  tortured  by  such  a  ride, 
and  becoming  untied,  were  left  alive  on  the  trail,  a  prey  to  the 
Indians — a  fearful  fate,  too  horrible  to  contemplate.  "  For  God's 
sake,  give  me  something  to  kill  myself  with,"  they  cried,  as  the 
troops  disappeared  in  the  darkness. 

Through  the  night  the  rapid  trot  or  gallop  was  kept  up,  fol- 
lowing the  faithful  Nez-Perce. 


174  Indians,  Continued. 

The  wounded  were  left  to  take  care  of  themselves,  and  the 
line  of  demoralized  and  frightened  troops  passed  southward,  put- 
ting whatever  of  distance  they  might  between  themselves  and  the 
enemy  for  twenty-four  hours.  They  rode  ninety  miles,  and 
reached  the  Snake  river  four  miles  below  where  they  crossed  it  on 
the  march  northward.  Going  up  to  Timothy's  village,  that  de- 
voted chief  summoned  his  own  men  and  put  them  on  guard,  while 
the  exhausted  cavalcade  was  ferried  across  to  their  haven  of 
refuge,  the  south  side  of  the  Snake. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  Steptoe's  force  reached  the  Pataha, 
where  he  was  joined  by  Captain  Dent,  who  brought  supplies  and 
reinforcements.  Here,  too,  came  Chief  Lawyer,  with  a  formid- 
able war  party  of  Nez-Perces,  who  begged  the  defeated  troops  to 
return  with  him  and  try  the  fortunes  of  war  again  with  the 
Northern  Indians.  But  was  rejected.  Considering  the  gallant 
beha\dor  of  the  Nez-Perces,  two  of  the  four  only  escaping  alive 
from  the  fight,  and  the  services  they  rendered  subsequently,  their 
treatment  by  the  Whites  was  contemptible.  And  Steptoe,  in  an 
official  letter,  to  swell  the  number  (500  to  600)  of  enemies  which 
had  been  encountered,  falsely  stated  that  some  of  the  Nez-Perces 
were  engaged  in  the  attack,  and  omitted  to  mention  then-  offer  of 
reinforcements.  Then  Steptoe  was  promoted,  and  then  he  joined 
the  Southern  Confederacy." 

''General  Clarke  at  once  sent  up  four  companies  from  San 
Francisco  to  re-inforce  the  troops  at  Walla  Walla.  Keyes  came 
up  in  charge  of  the  expedition,  with  orders  to  report  to  Col.  Geo. 
Wright  at  Walla  Walla.  The  march  of  177  miles  over  land  from 
the  dalles  [rapids  of  the  Columbia  river]  was  very  exhaustive,  as 
it  was  late  in  June.  At  that  time  (1859)  the  sound  of  a  steam- 
boat whistle  had  never  been  heard  above  Celilo.  He  built  a  small 
fort  near  the  mouth  of  Tu-Canyon,  where  he  left  one  company  of 
artiUery,  under  command  of  F.  O.  Wyse.  The  party,  numbering 
about  900  men  in  aU,  crossed  Snake  river  in  boats  on  the  25th  of 
August,  and  five  days  later  met  the  red  foe  at  the  Four  Lakes, 
where  a  battle  was  fought,  which  showed  the  Indians  that  Hudson 
Bay  muskets  were  no  match  for  the  long-range  rifies  of  the  troops. 
This  battle,  which  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Spokane  Plains,  ended 
about  fourteen  miles  from  where  it  began,  and  was  fought  in  the 
smoke  of  burning  gi*ass.  Not  a  soldier  was  kiUed  or  wounded. 
The  Indian  loss  was  over  ninety.    [May  be  so.] 

On  the  8th  of  September,  Col.  Grier  captured  a  band  of  900 


Indians,  Continued.  175 


horses.  These  he  drove  into  camp.  The  officers  and  the  quarter- 
master were  allowed  to  select  a  certain  number ;  two  were  given 
to  each  friendly  Indian;  and,  on  the  following  day,  the  remaining 
690  horses  were  driven  into  a  high  enclosure,  and  shot  down  as 
fast  as  they  entered  Toward  the  last  the  soldiers  seemed  to  ex- 
ult in  the  bloody  task,  for  such  is  the  ferocious  character  of  men. 
"While  the  work  of  destruction  was  going  on,  I  saw  an  Indian 
approaching  our  camp,  carrying  a  long  pole  with  a  white  flag  on 
it,  and  in  the  cleft  end  of  the  pole  was  a  letter  from  Father  Josef, 
S.  J.,  at  the  Cour  d'Alene  mission.  He  informed  Col.  Wright  that 
in  consequence  of  our  victories,  the  hostiles  were  greatly  east 
down,  and  wished  him  to  be  their  intercessor  for  peace.  The 
father  added  in  his  communication,  that  the  friendly  Indians  were 
delighted  at  our  victories,  as  they  had  been  threatened  by  the 
hostiles  for  not  fighting.  On  the  22d  the  command  camped  on 
the  Nedwall,  a  tributary  of  the  Spokane,  and  in  came  old  Owhi, 
who  had  been  wOunded  on  the  Spokane  plains.  Wright  ordered 
him  to  be  put  in  irons  at  once.  That  afternoon  six  Indians  were 
hanged,  in  squads  of  three,  each.  A  messenger  was  then  sent  in 
search  of  Qualchin,  the  son  of  Owhi,  who  came  into  camp  on  the 
24:th.  He  asked  to  see  his  father,  and  CoL  Wright  answered : 
'Owhi  mitlite  yawa.'  (Owhi  is  over  there.)  As  he  said  this  a 
section  of  the  guard  sprang  upon  Qualchin  and  disarmed  him. 
He  had  the  strength  of  a  Hercules,  and  notwithstanding  he  had 
an  unhealed  wound  in  his  side,  it  took  six  men  to  tie  his  hands 
and  feet.  Within  an  hour,  from  his  entry  into  Col.  Wright's 
camp,  he  was  hanged,  by  order  of  that  stern,  old  warrior." 

Yet,  he  had  no  more  right  in  their  country  with  an  armed 
force,  than  Bismarck  has  against  the  natives  of  the  Samoan 
Islands  at  this  time,  1889  ;  or  the  English  to  force  rum  into 
Africa,  or  opium  into  China,  in  the  name  of  Christ  and  civili- 
zation. 

''The  Chief  Moses  Outrage,  1883. 

The  Oregonian  has  contained  an  account  of  the  arrival  of  chief 
Moses  at  Fort  Van  Couver,  to  protest  against  the  action  of  the 
Government  in  restoring  to  the  public  domain  a  portion  of  the  re- 
servation, gi'anted  to  Moses  and  his  people  a  few  years  ago. 

By  orders,  dated  April  9th,  1879,  and  March  Gth,  1880,  Presi- 
dent Hayes  set  apart  for  chief  Moses  and  his  people,  Avhat  is 
known  as  the  Chief  Moses  Indian  Reservation  in  the  big  bend  of 


176  Indians,  Continued. 


tlie  Columbia  river.  It  contains  about  three  million  acres,  and 
some  mining  districts,  supposed  to  be  valuable.  It  will  be  re- 
membered, that  the  reservation  was  set  apart  after  a  long  con- 
ference with  Moses,  who  "sdsited  Washington  and  came  back  with 
the  assurance,  that  he  would  never  in  future  be  dispossessed  of 
the  grant. 

On  the  23rd  of  February  last.  President  Ai'thur  issued  an 
order,  restoring  a  tract  about  15  miles  wide  and  100  miles  long  to 
the  public  domain.  The  strip  is  at  the  northern  boundary  of  the 
reservation.  "^Tiat  influence  brought  about  this  action  by  the 
President,  is  not  known  here.  That  he  should  have  taken  such  a 
step,  when  the  faith  of  the  Government  was  pledged,  that  the  re- 
servation would  not  be  disturbed,  and  that  step,  too,  without  con- 
sulting Moses'  tribe,  is  a  [masonic]  mystery. 

It  is  a  part  of  the  gi'ievance  of  chief  Moses,  that  he  was  not 
consulted  in  the  matter  of  taking  away  his  land.  Even  to  this 
time  he  has  not  received  official  notification  of  the  President's 
action.  His  first  hint  of  the  order  was  the  presence  on  his  re- 
servation of  miners  and  squatters,  [themselves,  or  in  the  interest 
of  a  gang  of  masons,  having  big  influence  at  court,]  who  staked 
out  claims,  selecting  in  many  instances  lands  occupied  by  Indian 
families.  A  better  scheme  to  excite  the  anger  of  the  Indians  could 
not  have  been  devised,  and  it  is  surprising  that  the  outrage  did 
not  result  at  once  in  bloody  warfare.  And,  in  truth,  only  the  pro- 
mise of  Moses,  to  have  the  matter  fixed  to  their  satisfaction,  re- 
strained his  people  from  summary  measures.  The  country  has 
seen,  in  the  case  of  the  Musell  slough  settlers  in  California,  [that 
were  plundered  of  their  homes  by  a  gang  of  masons,  having  con- 
trol of  the  courts,]  how  white  men  feel  under  similar  provocation, 
and  from  that  can,  perhaps,  understand  the  spirit  which  Moses 
had,  and  has  still,  to  combat. 

For  a  long  time  past  it  has  been  known,  that  rich  gold  and 
silver  bearing  ledges  existed  in  the  mountains  within  the  limits  of 
chief  Moses'  reservation,  but  it  has  not  been  so  ivell  known,  that 
men  [masons],  owning  immense  wealth,  have  an  interest  in  these 
mines,  and  that  to  their  influence,  and  solely  for  their  benefit,  has 
such  a  large  slice  been  taken  from  the  Indians,  without  a  why  or 
wherefore,  [and  given  to  the  gang.  Practical  miners  and  real 
citizens  could  never  have  thus  acquired  valuable  property. —  Here- 
after, when  the  people  were  trying  to  repel  a  fraudulent  invasion 
of  Chinese,  it  mil  be  seen,  how  these  charitable  brethren  wrung 


Indians,  Continued.  177 


their  hands  in  horror  at  'Wiolatiug  the  plighted  faith  of  the 
Government,"  as  they  were  making  money  out  of  them,  and  how 
they  made  money  out  of  the  Chinese  war,  as  they  do  in  that  of 
the  Indian.] 

The  country  so  thrown  open  contains  fifteen  hundred  square 
miles  of  territory,  and,  outside  the  mineral  bearing  region,  con- 
tains land  of  very  little  value. 

It  is  known  that  the  Indians  are  deeply  dissatisfied  with  the 
act  of  the  Government.  That  this  act  of  bad  faith  rankles  in  their 
hearts  as  a  most  inexcusable  and  wanton  injury.  They  cannot 
but  intei'prete  it  as  a  further  declaration,  that  the  Indians  have 
no  rights,  which  the  white  man  or  his  government  is  bound  to  re- 
spect. They  cannot  look  upon  it  in  any  other  light,  than  as  a  most 
perfidious  violation  of  the  plighted  faith  of  the  Government. 
Moreover,  they  look  upon  it  merely  as  an  initial  encroachment, 
which  will  be  followed  by  others,  until  their  lands  are  wholly 
taken  away,  leaving  them  no  dwelling  place  they  can  call  their 
own. 

What  has  heretofore  happened  in  similar  circumstances  need 
not  be  recited  in  detail  here.  The  Indians  are  not  numerous. 
They  can  muster  perhaps  600  men.  But  a  less  number  of  Modocs 
and  a  less  number  of  Nez-Perces  fought  with  a  courage  that  won 
the  admii'ation  of  the  country,  while  they  made  its  army  mourn 
the  loss  of  great  numbers  of  its  best  officers  and  men,  terrorized 
the  country  for  hundi*eds  of  miles,  and  cost  the  Government  tre- 
mendous exertions  and  millions  of  money  [for  the  gang]  to  sub- 
due them.  The  causes  of  these  risings  bear  a  close  parallel  to  the 
complaints  now  made  by  Moses  and  his  people.  In  each  case  it 
was  an  attempt  to  deprive  the  Indians  of  their  dwelling  place 
without  their  consent. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  President  has  acted  in  this 
matter  upon  his  own  motion.  By  whom  were  the  representations 
made  which  led  to  the  order  ?  In  case  of  an  outbreak  on  the 
part  of  these  Indians  somebody  will  have  to  answer  this  question, 
[on  the  contrary,  they  are  sworn  to  ''  ever  conceal  and  never 
reveal'' these  masonic  mysteries].  It  may  be  that  the  delegate 
from  Washington  territory  could  tell  about  the  influence  that 
secm-ed  the  executive  order.     [But  he  was  a  mason  himself]. 

The  [masonic]  policy  of  perfidy  and  robbery  is  as  poor  in 
point  of  expediency  as  it  is  poor  in  point  of  morality.  We  have 
paid  for  these  things  hitherto  in  murdered  families,  depopulated 
12 


178  Indians,  Continued. 


settlements,  men  slain  in  battle,  and  nntold  sums  of  money  ex- 
pended in  Indian  wars.  The  Indian  is  a  strange  compound  of 
hasty  spirit  and  stubborn  fatalism.  He  acts  from  an  impulse, 
dismissing  prudence,  and  taking  no  thought  of  consequences ; 
and  when  overcome,  he  accepts  his  fate  with  indifference  or  forti- 
tude. He  reasons  that  he  might  as  well  die  at  once  as  to  be 
stripped  of  his  home,  have  no  abiding  place  and  no  means  of 
living  ;  and  hence  the  motive  from  which  he  acts  is  a  mixture  re- 
sulting from  a  sense  of  injury,  a  desire  of  revenge,  and  a  feeling 
of  despair. 

But  the  weakness  of  these  Indians  let  no  one  despise.  "Weak, 
indeed,  they  are  ;  but  the  poor  reptile,  trodden  upon,  has  the  in- 
stinct of  self-preservation,  and  may  fatally  sting. 

If  it  was  deemed  so  necessary  to  get  back  a  part  of  Moses' 
reservation,  the  honest  way  would  have  been  to  open  a  negotia- 
tion with  him  and  his  people,  and  satisfy  them  for  the  land. 

The  [linked]  politicians  who  shared  in  the  attempt  to  rob 
Moses  and  his  people  of  their  land,  the  crowd  who  hoped  for  profit 
from  this  crime,  and  those  who  from  principle,  or  the  lack  of  it, 
or  from  habit,  cry  down  the  red  man  [and  the  white]  without  re- 
gard to  the  merits  of  his  cause,  have  attempted  to  justify  the 
careless  [f]  act  of  the  President.  Unable  to  make  out  a  case 
which  could  demand  respect,  with  the  simple  truth,  they  have  not 
hesitated  to  misrepresent  the  facts — in  other  words,  they  have 
lied. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  officers  now  on  the  reservation,  that  if 
the  old  chief  should  begin  hostilities,  he  would  be  joined  by  the 
disaffected  living  near  him,  and  that  he  could  muster  a  force  suf- 
ficiently strong  to  spread  desolation  over  the  whole  of  north- 
eastern "Washington,  [which  would  be  a  mint  for  the  gang].  But 
warfare  on  Moses'  part  has  never  been  feared,  unless,  forced  by 
the  passions  of  his  people,  he  shoiild  have  to  abandon  them  oi* 
lead  them." 

"  During  the  past  ten  years  the  Government  has  expended 
nearly  $70,000,000  in  caring  [?]  for  the  Indians  [?].  The  total 
number  attached  to  agencies  is  only  246,000,  and  of  these  60,000 
in  Indian  Territory,  7,700  in  "Wisconsin,  and  5,000  in  New  York, 
are  supposed  to  be  at  least  partially  self-supporting." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Indians,  concluded. — "Tlie  Waiilatpu  massacre." — The  thrilling  story  of 
one  who,  as  a  giii,  was  an  eye  witness  and  then  taken  away  as  a 
prisoner. — Forebodings  of  the  ninrderons  outbreak. — Fiiendly  warn- 
ing given. — The  dying  hours  of  Dr.  and^  Mi-s.  TMiitman. — Mission  hfe 
among  the  Indians. — As  the  Indians  were  in  1852  and  then  in  1856. — 
Death  of  chief  Kanaskai— How  Indians  are  preseiTed. — How  "  ci^ih- 
zation  "  was  introduced  to  the  natives  of  South  and  Central  America. 

The  Waiilatpu  Massacre. 

[Mrs.  Clark  Pringle,  whose  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Sager,  and 
who  was  one  of  the  children  adopted  by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman,  was  13 
years  old  at  the  time  of  this  notable  massacre.  She  was  an  eye  witness  to 
all  that  preceded  it,  as  well  as  to  much  that  occurred.  Her  experience  was 
dreadful  in  the  extreme.  The  f ollo^\^ng  article  was  written  by  her  and 
sent  to  Mr.  S.  A.  Clarke,  as  a  contribution  to  his  history  of  "  Pioneer  Days, " 
and  by  him  furnished  to  The  Oeegonian.  Some  new  facts  are  learned 
from  her  account,  although,  even  were  not  this  the  case,  the  narrative  it- 
self would  jarove  of  sufficient  interest  to  attract  the  reader. 

Mr.  Clarke  says:  "I  consider  this  the  most  valtiable  description  of  that 
sad  and  terrible  affair  that  ever  has  been  written.  Mrs.  Piingie  possesses 
rare  abihty  as  a  writer,  as  all  must  concede."] 

in  the  year  1836  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman  and  his  wife,  in  com- 
pany with  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding  and  wife,  crossed  the  Rocky 
mountains  and  settled  among  the  Nez-Perces  and  Cayuse  Indians 
as  missionaries.  Dr.  Whitman's  location  was  among  the  latter 
tribe,  in  the  Walla  Walla  valley.  He  and  his  bride  had  left  civi- 
lization immediately  after  their  marriage  and  settled  among 
savages,  with  the  intention  of  raising  them  from  their  degradation. 
For  eleven  years  they  toiled  with  pleasing  success,  and  were  led 
to  think  that  ere  many  years  should  pass  their  dreams  would  be 
realized,  that  the  heathen  tribe  would  be  a  Christian  people. 

Their  only  child,  a  daughter,  was  drowned  when  two  years 
old,  but  they  had  filled  their  house  with  children  whom  they  had 
adopted.  These  children  were  as  follows :  A  nephew  of  Dr.  Whit- 
man; three  half-breeds,  named  Mary  Ann  Bridger,  Helen  M. 
Meek  and  David  M.  Cortez.  In  1844  my  parents  died  crossing  the 
plains  on  their  way  to  Oregon,  leaving  seven  children,  the  eldest 
14  years  old,  and  the  youngest  a  babe  of  six  months.  We  were  at 
their  request  taken  to  the  station  of  Dr.  Whitman,  and  he  and  his 

(180) 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  181 

wife  adopted  the  seven.  Here  we  lived  the  happy,  careless  life  of 
childhood.  It  mattered  not  to  ns  that  our  associations  were  con- 
fined to  members  of  the  family ;  there  were  enough  of  ns  to  keep 
the  house  ringing  with  mirth  from  morning  until  night.  Three 
years  this  life  lasted,  and  then  a  storm  began  to  gather  and  cast 
its  shadow  over  this  happy  home.  First  it  was  but  a  small  cloud, 
in  the  distance ;  then  was  heard  low,  muttering  thunder;  finally 
the  whole  horizon  was  overcast  and  the  storm  broke  with  a  fury 
that  wrecked  and  scattered  the  household  forever,  castiug  a  gloom 
over  all  coming  time  to  those  who  survived  its  ravages. 

SOME    OF  THE   CAUSES. 

In  the  fall  of  1847  the  emigration  over  the  mountains  brought 
the  measles.  It  spread  among  the  Indians,  and  owing  to  their 
manner  of  living  it  proved  very  fatal.  It  was  customary  for  emi- 
grant families  who  arrived  late,  to  winter  at  the  station,  and  some 
seven  or  eight  famihes  had  put  up  there  to  spend  the  winter  of 
1847.  Among  the  arrivals  was  a  half-breed  named  Joseph  Lewis, 
who  had  joined  the  emigration  at  Fort  HaU.  Much  against  his 
will,  the  doctor  admitted  this  person  into  his  family  for  the 
winter.  None  of  us  liked  him;  he  seemed  surly  and  morose. 
There  was  also  a  Frenchman  named  Joseph  Stanfield,  who  had 
been  in  the  doctor's  employ  since  the  year  1845.  Up  to  the  year 
1847  the  Protestant  missions  had  been  the  only  religious  influence 
among  the  Indians.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  Catholic  church 
established  missions  among  them,  and  the  teachings  of  the  two 
clashed.  The  Indian  mind  is  so  constructed  that  he  cannot  re- 
concile the  different  isms,  consequently  they  became  much  worked 
up  on  the  subject.  Many  long  talks  occurred  between  them  and 
Dr.  Whitman,  in  reference  to  the  two  religious  systems.  Owing 
to  the  sickness,  and  these  other  causes,  the  natives  began  to  show 
an  insolent  and  hostile  feeling.  It  was  now  late  in  the  season  and 
the  weather  was  very  inclement.  Whitman's  large  family  were 
all  sick  and  the  disease  was  raging  fearfully  among  the  Indians, 
who  were  rapidly  dying.  I  saw  from  five  to  six  buried  daily. 
The  field  was  open  for  creating  mischief  and  the  two  Joes  im- 
proved it.  Jo  Lewis  was  the  chief  agent ;  his  cupidity  had  been 
awakened  and  he  and  his  associate  expected  to  reap  a  large  spoil. 
A  few  days  previous  to  the  massacre  Mr.  Spalding  arrived  at  the 
station,  accompanied  by  his  daughter,  10  years  old.  She  was  the 
second  child  boru  of  white  parents  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains, 


182  Indian  Massacre. 


Dr.  Whitman's  child  being  the  fii'st.  She  had  lived  her  ten  years  of 
life  among  the  natives  and  spoke  the  language  fluently.  Saturday, 
after  his  arrival,  Mr.  Spalding  accompanied  Dr.  Whitman  to  the 
Umatilla,  to  visit  the  Indians  there  and  hold  a  meeting  for  wor- 
ship with  them  upon  the  Sabbath.  They  rode  nearly  all  night,  in 
a  lieav}^  rain.  Dr.  Whitman  spent  the  next  day  visiting  the  sick, 
and  retui'ned  to  the  lodge,  where  Mr.  Spalding  was  staying,  late 
in  the  afternoon,  nearly  worn  out  mth  fatigue.  The  condition  of 
his  family  made  it  imperative  that  he  should  return  home,  so 
arrangements  were  made  for  Mr.  Spalding  to  remain  a  few  days 
on  the  Umatilla,  to  visit  among  and  preach  to  the  Indians. 

A   CONSPIRACY  UNFOLDED. 

As  Dr.  Whitman  was  mounting  his  horse  to  leave,  Stickas,  a 
friendly  Christian  Indian,  who  was  the  owner  of  the  lodge,  came 
out  and  told  him  that  "Jo  Lewis  was  making  trouble ;  that  he  was 
telling  his  (Stickas')  people  that  the  doctor  and  Mr.  Spalding  were 
poisoning  the  Indians,  so  as  to  give  their  country  to  his  own 
people."  He  said  :  "  I  do  not  believe  him,  but  some  do,  and  I  fear 
they  wiU  do  you  harm ;  you  had  better  go  away  for  awhile,  until 
my  people  have  better  hearts. " 

Doctor  Whitman  arrived  at  home  about  ten  o'clock  that  night, 
having  ridden  twenty-five  miles  after  sundown.  He  sent  my  two 
brothers,  who  were  sitting  up  with  the  sick,  to  bed,  saying  that  he 
would  watch  the  remainder  of  the  night.  After  they  had  retired 
he  examined  the  patients,  one  after  the  other.  (I  also  was  lying 
sick  at  the  time,)  Coming  to  Helen,  he  spoke  and  told  his  wife, 
who  was  lying  on  the  bed,  that  Helen  was  dying.  He  sat  and 
watched  her  for  some  time,  when  she  rallied  and  seemed  better, 
I  had  noticed  that  he  seemed  to  be  troubled  when  he  first  came 
home,  but  concluded  that  it  was  anxiety  in  reference  to  the  sick 
children. 

Taking  a  chair,  he  sat  down  by  the  stove  and  requested  his 
wife  to  arise,  as  he  wished  to  talk  with  her.  She  complied,  and  he 
related  to  her  what  Stickas  had  told  him  that  day ;  also  that  he 
had  learned  that  the  Indians  were  holding  councils  every  night. 

After  conversing  for  some  time,  his  mf e  retired  to  another 
room  and  the  doctor  kept  his  lonely  watch.  Observing  that  I  was 
restless,  he  surmised  that  I  had  overheard  the  conversation.  By 
kind  and  soothing  words  he  allayed  my  fears,  and  I  went  to  sleep. 
I  can  see  it  all  now,  and  remember  just  how  he  looked. 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  183 

The  fatal  29th  of  November  dawned,  a  cold,  foggy  morning. 
It  would  seem  as  though  the  sun  was  afraid  to  look  upon  the 
bloody  deed  the  day  was  to  bring  forth,  and  that  nature  was 
weeping  over  the  wickedness  of  man.  Father's  (Dr.  Whitman) 
brow  was  serene,  with  no  trace  of  the  storm  that  had  raged  in  his 
breast  during  the  night.  He  was  somewhat  more  serious  than 
usual.  Most  of  the  children  were  better,  only  three  being  danger- 
ous ;  two  of  these  afterwards  died.  We  saw  nothing  of  mother 
(Mrs.  Whitman).  One  of  the  girls  put  some  breakfast  on  a  plate 
aud  carried  it  to  her.  She  was  sitting  with  her  face  buried  in  her 
handkerchief,  sobbing  bitterly.  Taking  the  food  she  motioned 
the  child  to  leave.    The  food  was  there,  untouched,  next  morning. 

LAST  HOUR  AT  WHITMAN'S  STATION. 

An  Indian  child  had  died  during  the  night  and  was  to  be 
brought  to  the  station  for  burial.  While  awaiting  the  coming  of 
the  corpse,  Dr.  Whitman  sat  reading  and  conversing  with  his 
assistant,  Mr.  Rodgers,  upon  the  difficulties  that  seemed  to  sur- 
round him,  the  discontent  of  the  Indians,  the  Catholics  forcing 
themselves  upon  him,  and  the  insinuations  of  Jo  Lewis.  He 
made  plans  for  conciliating  the  natives  and  for  improving  their 
condition.  He  said  that  the  bishop  was  coming  to  see  him  in  a 
few  days,  and  he  thought  that  then  he  could  get  the  Indians  to 
give  him  leave  to  go  away  in  the  spring,  adding : 

"  If  things  do  not  clear  up  by  that  time,  I  will  move  my 
family  below." 

Being  informed  of  the  arrival  of  the  corpse,  he  arose,  and 
after  calling  his  wife  and  giving  her  directions  in  regard  to  the 
sick  children,  he  wended  his  way  to  the  graveyard. 

A  beef  had  to  be  killed  for  the  use  of  the  station,  and  my 
brother  Francis,  accompanied  by  Jo  Stanfield,  had  gone  early  to 
the  range  and  driven  it  in,  and  three  or  four  men  were  dressing 
it  near  the  grist-mill,  which  was  running,  grinding  grist  for  the 
Indians. 

Upon  the  retui-n  from  the  funeral  the  doctor  remarked  that 
none  but  the  relatives  were  at  the  burying,  although  large  nmn- 
bers  were  assembled  near  by ;  but  it  might  be  owing  to  the  beef 
being  killed,  as  it  was  their  custom  to  gather  at  such  times.  His 
wife  requested  him  to  go  up  stairs  to  see  Miss  Bewley,  who  was 
quite  sick.  He  complied,  returning  shortly  with  a  troubled  look 
on  his  countenance.     He  crossed  the  room  to  a  sash  door  that 


184  Indian  Massacre. 


fronted  the  mill,  and  stood  for  some  moments  drumming  upon 
the  glass  with  his  fingers.     Turning  around,  he  said : 

"  Poor  Lorinda  is  in  trouble  and  does  not  know  the  cause.  I 
found  her  weeping,  and  she  said  there  was  a  presentiment  of  evil 
on  her  mind  that  she  could  not  overcome.  I  will  get  her  some 
medicine,  and,  wife,  you  take  it  up  to  her,  and  try  and  comfort 
lier  a  little,  for  I  have  failed  in  the  attempt." 

As  he  said  this  he  walked  to  the  medicine  case,  and  was 
making  a  selection.  His  wife  had  gone  to  the  pantry  for  milk  tor 
one  of  the  children;  the  kitchen  was  full  of  Indians,  and  their 
boisterous  manner  alarmed  her.  She  fled  to  the  sitting  room, 
bolting  the  door  in  the  face  of  the  savages  who  tried  to  pass  in. 
She  had  not  taken  her  hand  from  the  lock  when  the  Indians 
rapped  and  asked  for  the  doctor.  She  said,  "  Doctor,  you  are 
wanted."  He  went  out,  telling  her  to  fasten  the  door  after  him ; 
she  did  so.  Listening  for  a  moment,  she  seemed  to  be  reassured, 
crossed  the  room  and  took  up  the  youngest  child.  She  sat  down 
with  this  child  in  her  arms.  Just  then  Mrs.  Osborn  came  in  from 
an  adjoining  room  and  sat  down.  This  was  the  first  time  this 
lady  had  been  out  of  her  room  for  weeks,  having  been  very  ill. 

THE   STORM   BURSTS   ON  WAIILATPU. 

She  had  scarcely  sat  down  when  we  were  all  startled  by  an 
explosion  that  seemed  to  shake  the  house.  The  two  women 
sprang  to  their  feet,  and  stood  with  white  faces  and  distended 
eyes.  The  children  rushed  out  doors,  some  of  them  without 
clothes,  as  we  were  taking  a  bath.  Placing  the  child  on  the  bed, 
Mrs.  Whitman  called  us  back  and  started  for  the  kitchen,  but 
changing  her  mind,  she  fastened  the  door,  and  told  Mrs.  Osborn 
to  go  to  her  room  and  lock  the  door,  at  the  same  time  telling  us 
to  put  on  our  clothes.  All  this  happened  much  quicker  than  I 
can  write  it.  Mrs.  Whitman  then  began  to  walk  the  floor  wring- 
ing her  hands,  saying,  ''  Oh,  the  Indians  !  the  Indians  !  they  have 
killed  my  husband,  and  I  am  a  widow  !  "  She  repeated  this  many 
times.  At  this  time,  Mary  Ann,  who  was  in  the  kitchen,  rushed 
around  the  house  and  came  in  at  a  door  that  was  not  locked  ;  her 
face  was  deathly  white  ;  we  gathered  around  her  and  inquired  if 
father  was  dead?  She  replied,  ''Yes."  Just  then  a  man  from 
the  beef  came  in  at  the  same  door,  with  his  arm  broken.  He 
said :  "  Mrs.  Whitman,  the  Indians  are  killing  us  all."  This 
roused  her  to  action.     The  wounded  man  was  lying  on  the  floor 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  185 

calling  for  water.  She  brought  him  a  pitcherfiil  from  another 
room,  locked  all  the  doors,  then  unlocking  that  door  she  went  into 
the  kitchen.  As  she  did  so,  several  emigrant  women,  with  theu* 
small  children,  rushed  in.  Mrs.  Whitman  was  trying  to  drag  her 
husband  in ;  one  of  the  women  went  to  her  aid,  and  they  brought 
him  in.  He  was  fatally  wounded,  but  conscious.  The  blood  was 
streaming  from  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  throat  Kneeling  over 
him,  she  implored  him  to  speak  to  lier.  To  all  her  questions  he 
whispered  "  Yes,"  or  "  No,"  as  the  case  might  be.  Mrs.  Whitman 
would  often  stej)  to  the  sash  door  and  look  out  through  the  win- 
dow to  see  what  was  going  on  out  of  doors,  as  the  roar  of  guns 
showed  us  that  the  blood-thirsty  fiends  were  not  yet  satisfied.  At 
such  times  she  would  exclaim :  "  Oh,  that  Jo  Lewis  is  doing  it 
all !  "  Several  times  this  wretch  came  to  the  door  and  tried  to 
get  into  the  room  where  we  were.  When  Mrs.  Whitman  would 
ask,  *'  What  do  you  want,  Joe"?"  he  would  run  away.  Looking 
out  we  saw  Mr.  Rodgers  running  toward  the  house,  hotly  pursued 
by  Indians.  He  sprang  against  the  door,  breaking  out  two  panes 
of  glass.  Mrs.  Whitman  opened  the  door  and  let  him  in,  aud 
closed  it  in  the  face  of  his  pursuers,  who,  with  a  yell,  turned  to 
seek  other  victims.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  shot  through  the  wrist  and 
tomahawked  on  the  head ;  seeing  the  doctor  lying  upon  the  floor, 
he  asked  if  he  was  dead,  to  which  the  doctor  replied,  "  No." 

MRS.   WHITMAN  FALLS  ! 

The  school  teacher,  hearing  the  report  of  the  guns  in  the 
kitchen,  ran  down  to  see  what  had  happened ;  finding  the  door 
fastened,  he  stood  for  a  moment,  when  Mrs.  Whitman  saw  him, 
and  motioned  for  him  to  go  back.  He  did  so,  and  had  reached 
the  stairs  leading  to  the  school  room,  when  he  was  seized  by  a 
savage,  who  had  a  large  butcher  knife.  Mr.  Sanders  struggled, 
and  was  about  to  get  away,  when  another  burly  savage  came  to 
the  aid  of  the  first.  Standing  by  Mrs.  Whitman's  side  I  watched 
the  horrid  strife,  until  sickened,  I  turned  away.  Just  then  a 
bullet  came  through  the  window  piercing  Mrs.  Whitman's 
shoulder.  Clapping  her  hands  to  the  wound  she  shrieked  M-ith 
pain,  and  then  fell  to  the  floor.  I  ran  to  her  and  tried  to  raise 
her  up.  She  said,  "  Child,  you  cannot  help  me,  save  yourself." 
We  all  crowded  around  her  and  began  to  weep.  She  commenced 
praying  for  us,  "  Lord,  save  these  little  ones."    She  repeated  this 


186  Indian  Massacre. 


over  many  times.     She   also  prayed  for  her  parents,  saying : 
''  This  will  kill  my  poor  mother." 

The  women  now  began  to  go  up  staii's,  and  Mr.  Rodgers 
pushed  us  to  the  stairway.  I  was  filled  with  agony  at  the  idea  of 
leaving  the  sick  childi'en,  and  refused  to  go.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  too 
excited  to  speak,  so  taking  up  one  of  the  children  he  handed  her 
to  me,  and  motioned  for  me  to  take  her  up.  I  passed  her  to  some 
one  else,  turned  and  took  another,  and  then  the  third,  and  ran  up 
myself.  Mr.  Rodgers  then  helped  mother  to  her  feet  and  brought 
her  up  stairs,  and  laid  her  on  the  bed.  He  then  knelt  in  prayer, 
and  while  thus  engaged,  the  crashing  of  doors  informed  us  that 
the  work  of  death  was  accomplished  out  of  doors,  and  our  time 
had  come.  The  wounded  man,  whose  name  was  Kimball,  said 
that  if  we  had  a  gun  to  hold  over  the  bannisters,  it  might  keep 
them  away.  There  happened  to  be  an  old  broken  gun  in  the  room 
and  this  was  placed  over  the  railing.  By  this  time  they  were 
smashing  the  door  leading  to  the  stairway.  Having  accomplished 
this  they  retired.  All  was  quiet  for  awhile,  then  we  heard  foot- 
steps in  the  room  below,  and  a  voice  at  the  bottom  of  the  stairway 
called  Mr.  Rodgers. 

SAVAGE   TREACHERY. 

It  was  an  Indian,  who  represented  that  he  had  just  come  ;  he 
would  save  them  if  he  would  come  down.  After  a  good  deal  of 
parleying  he  came  up.  I  told  mother  that  I  had  seen  him  killing 
the  teacher,  but  she  thought  I  was  mistaken.  He  said  that  they 
were  going  to  burn  the  house,  and  that  we  must  leave  it.  I 
wrapped  my  little  sister  up,  and  handed  her  to  him  with  the  re- 
quest that  he  would  carry  her.  He  said  that  they  would  take 
Mrs.  Whitman  away  and  then  come  back  for  us.  Then  all  left 
save  the  children  and  Mr.  Kimball.  When  they  reached  the  room 
below,  mother  was  laid  upon  the  settee,  and  carried  out  into  the 
yard  by  Mr.  Rodgers  and  Jo  Lewis.  Having  reached  the  yard, 
Jo  dropped  his  end  of  the  settee,  and  a  volley  of  bullets  laid  Mr. 
Rodgers,  mother,  and  brother  Francis,  bleeding  and  dying,  on 
the  ground.  While  the  Indians  were  holding  a  council,  to  decide 
how  to  get  Mrs.  Whitman  and  Mr.  Rodgers  into  their  hands,  Jo 
Lewis  had  been  sent  to  the  school  room  to  get  the  school  children. 
They  had  hid  in  the  attic,  but  were  ferreted  out  and  brought  to 
the  kitchen,  where  they  were  placed  in  a  row  to  be  shot.  But 
the  chief  relented,  and  said  they  should  not  be  hurt;  but  my 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  187 

brother  Francis  was  killed  soon  after.     My  oldest  brother  was 
shot  at  the  same  time  the  doctor  was. 

Night  had  now  come,  and  the  chief  made  a  speech  in  favor  of 
sparing  the  women  and  children,  which  was  done,  and  they  all 
became  prisoners.  Ten  ghastly,  bleeding  corpses  lay  in  and 
around  the  house.  Mr.  Osborn's  family  had  secreted  themselves 
under  the  lloor,  and  escaped  during  the  night,  and  after  great 
hardships  reached  Fort  Walla  Walla.  One  other  man  escaped  to 
this  fort,  but  was  never  heard  of  again.  Another  fled  to  Mr. 
Spalding's  station ;  Mr.  Kimball  was  killed  the  next  day ;  Mr. 
Spalding  remained  at  Umatilla  until  Wednesday,  and  was  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  doctor's  station  when  he  learned  the  dreadful 
news.  He  fled,  and  after  great  suffering  reached  his  station, 
which  had  been  saved  by  the  presence  of  mind  and  shrewdness  of 
his  wife.  Mr.  Canfield  was  wounded,  but  concealing  himself  until 
night,  he  fled  to  Mr.  Spalding's  station. 

HOW  DR.   WHITMAN   FELL. 

The  manner  of  the  attack  on  Doctor  Whitman  I  learned 
afterwards  from  the  Indians.  Upon  entering  the  kitchen,  he  took 
his  usual  seat  upon  the  settee  which  was  between  the  wall  and  the 
cook  stove ;  an  Indian  began  to  talk  with  him  in  reference  to  a 
patient  the  doctor  was  attending.  While  thus  engaged,  an  Indian 
struck  him  from  behind  on  the  head  with  a  tomahawk ;  at  the 
same  moment  two  guns  were  discharged,  one  at  the  doctor,  and 
the  other  at  brother  John,  who  was  engaged  in  winding  twine  for 
the  purpose  of  making  brooms.  The  men  at  the  beef  were  set 
upon  ;  Mr.  Kimball  had  his  arm  broken  by  a  bullet  and  fled  to 
the  doctor's  house.  Mr.  Hoffman  fought  bravely  with  an  ax  ;  he 
split  the  foot  of  the  savage  who  first  struck  the  doctor,  but  was 
overpowered.  Mr.  Canfield  was  shot,  the  bullet  entering  his  side, 
but  he  made  his  escape.  The  miller  fell  at  his  post.  Mr.  Hall 
was  laying  the  upper  floor  of  a  building  ;  leaping  to  the  ground 
he  wi'ested  a  gun  from  an  Indian  and  fled  to  the  fort.  He  was 
never  seen  or  heard  of  afterwards,  and  it  is  surmised  that  he  was 
murdered  there.  The  tailor  was  sitting  upon  his  table  sewing,  an 
Indian  stepped  in,  shot  him  with  a  pistol  and  then  went  out ;  he 
died  at  midnight  after  great  suffering.  Night  came  and  put  an 
end  to  the  carnival  of  blood. 

The  November  moon  looked  down,  bright  and  cold,  upon  the 
scene,  nor  heeded  the  groans  of  the  dying,  who  gave  forth  their 


188  Indian  Massacre. 


plaiuts  to  the  chill  night  air.  Mr*.  Osborn's  family  was  concealed 
where  they  could  hear  Mr.  Rodger's  words  as  he  prayed  to  that 
Sa\dour  whom  he  had  loved  and  served  for  many  years.  His 
last  words  were,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  ! "  The  clock 
tolled  the  midnight  hour  ere  death  came  to  the  relief  of  these  victims 
of  savage  brutality.  The  dead  bodies  lay  where  they  fell,  from 
Monday  night  until  "Wednesday,  when  the  Christian  Indians, 
among  whom  the  doctor  and  his  wife  had  labored  for  eleven 
years,  and  from  whom  the  natives  have  received  nothing  but 
kindness,  gave  consent  to  have  them  buried,  but  not  one  of  them 
would  help  in  the  task.  Jo  Stanfield  was  set  at  the  work.  A 
grave  three  feet  deep  and  wide  enough  to  receive  the  eleven 
victims  was  dug,  and  the  bodies  placed  in  it.  Wolves  excavated 
the  grave  and  devoured  the  remains.  The  volunteers  who  went 
up  to  fight  the  Indians  gathered  up  the  bones,  placed  them  in  a 
wagon  box,  and  again  buried  them,  and  this  is  all  the  burial 
these  martyrs  of  Americanism  in  Oregon  have  ever  received.  A 
monument  is  now  being  built  to  their  memory. 

Catharine  S.  Prindle. 


Pioneer  Days. 


A  brief  history  of  the  Whitman  mission-life  at  "Waiilatpn. — The  murderous 
tribe  of  Cayuse  Indians  and  their  ideas  of  treachery.  The  final  scene 
of  massacre. . 

[Written for  the  Sunday  Oregonian.'\ 

Endowed  with  a  pure  religious  devotion,  Marcus  Whitman,  a 
physician  of  good  repute,  and  Narcissa,  his  wife,  in  the  prime  of 
a  life  of  activity  and  usefulness,  devoted  themselves  to  missionary 
work  among  the  Indians  of  Oregon. 

There  was  something  above  the  ordinary  demands  for  such 
service  in  the  circumstance  that  attended  this  act  of  devotion  on 
their  part.  A  story  that  bordered  on  romance,  and  partook  of  the 
old  crusaders'  spirit,  called  for  recruits  to  go  to  the  far  Columbia, 
and  attempt  to  Christianize  the  heathen  tribes  that  had  lived  so 
many  ages  in  ignorance  upon  the  farthest  waters  of  the  great 
river  of  the  West.  A  message  sounded  on  the  Missouri  frontier 
that  resounded  through  the  United  States  like  the  Macedonian 
cry  for  help.  A  small  company  of  Flatheadsand  Nez-Perces  found 
their  way  across  the  intervening  wilderness  and  arrived  at  St. 
Louis  one  half  century  ago,  who  said  they  came  to  ask  that  some 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  189 

man  competent  to  teach  the  true  religion  of  the  Whites  should 
come  to  make  their  people  acquainted  with  the  Saviour  that  the 
Christians  worshipped.  One  of  them  had  died  on  the  journey  to 
the  East.  It  is  hardly  possible  to  imagine  how  this  little  com- 
pany of  seekers  of  the  light  made  up  their  minds  to  take  this 
journey,  and  finally  accomplished  it.  There  must  have  been 
careful  selection  of  the  most  competent  for  the  mission ;  much 
advice  as  to  the  methods  to  be  followed,  and  much  caution  as  to 
the  best  course  to  be  pursued.  Certain  it  is  that  this  embassy 
was  entitled  and  commissioned  for  this  purpose,  and  found  its 
way  as  far  east  as  St.  Louis.  They  probably  accompanied  some 
returning  party  of  fur  traders,  and  made  themselves  useful  on  the 
way.  St.  Louis  was  the  metropolis  of  the  fur  trade,  and  they 
naturally  reached  that  city  in  such  company.  It  was  like  an 
electric  shock  to  the  Christian  people  there  to  know  that  from  the 
farthest  "West  there  had  come  to  them  this  message  and  demand 
for  Christian  teaching  for  the  tribes  beyond  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains. 

A  CHRISTIAN  FUR  TRADER. 

Among  the  few  fur  traders  who  found  their  way  to  the 
Pacific,  there  were  a  very  few  who  were  zealous  Christians  and 
lived  lives  of  fervent  piety,  surrounded  though  they  were  by  men 
whose  impiety  was  proverbial.  One  of  these  was  Jedediah  Smith, 
the  partner  of  Sublettes,  himself  one  of  the  best  known  men  be- 
yond the  Western  frontier.  Jedediah  Smith  spent  much  time 
among  the  Flatheads,  which  tribe  was  very  closely  related,  it  is 
said,  with  the  Nez-Perces.  The  language  spoken  is  the  same,  or 
similar.  During  his  association  with  these  tribes  Smith  gave 
them  some  information  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  of  Christ, 
the  Saviour.  These  teachings  fervently  impressed  the  minds  of 
both  tribes,  for  they  had  traits  of  character  readily  impressed  by 
religious  instruction.  They  were  by  nature  far  superior  to  most 
of  the  natives  of  Oregon  of  that  day.  It  is  said  that  it  was  in 
consequence  of  the  words  and  work  of  Jedediah  Smith  that  they 
finally  equipped  and  sent  eastward  the  embassy  that  asked  for 
Christian  teachers  to  expound  to  them  the  true  story  of  the  white 
man's  God.  So  this  word  reached  the  frontier  and  thence  tra- 
versed Christendom,  and  resulting  in  the  sending  hither  the 
several  missions  first  established  among  Oregon  Indians.  When 
Jason  Lee  and  his  company  came,  they  intended  to  locate  among 


190  Indian  Massacre. 


the  Flatheads,  but  concluded  to  winter  here  in  the  Willamette. 
The  result  was  that  they  located  here  permanently.  But  the  first 
Methodist  mission  came  in  response  to  the  appeal  we  have  men- 
tioned, and  was  turned  from  that  purpose  after  arrival  in  Oregon. 
Whitman  came  for  the  same  purpose,  and  his  associate  went  to 
the  Nez-Perces,  whilst  he  planted  the  standard  among  the 
Cayuses. 

It  is  related  of  the  four  who  came  on  this  wonderful  mission 
to  the  East,  only  one  finally  returned  to  his  home  and  his  people. 
Two  were  taken  iU  and  died  while  at  the  East,  and  another  died 
on  the  way  home.  Their  mission  was  one  of  peace,  but  it  was 
fraught  with  unseen  and  unapprehended  danger  to  those  who  bore 
it.  They  ventured  far  from  home,  and  laid  down  theii*  lives  in 
the  service  of  theii*  people,  and  in  the  cause  of  true  religion. 
They  sounded  the  cry  from  a  far  country  for  help,  and  did  not 
live  to  see  the  realization  of  their  hopes. 

ANSWERING  THE   CALL. 

Dr.  Whitman,  in  company  with  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  com- 
menced the  journey  to  Oregon  in  the  spring  of  1835.  They 
journeyed  as  far  west  as  the  American  rendezvous,  on  Green 
river,  where  they  found  a  party  of  Nez-Perce  Indians,  who  hailed 
their  coming  joyfully.  They  agreed  to  take  Mr.  Parker  with 
them  to  the  Columbia,  and  meet  Dr.  Whitman  on  his  return  the 
next  year,  with  reinforcements  strong  enough  to  do  good  work. 
A  young  Nez-Perce,  who  was  called  "Lawyer,"  heard  of  their 
presence,  and  went  to  see  them  at  their  rendezvous.  Dr.  Whit- 
man took  back  with  him  two  Indian  boys  to  be  educated  at  the 
East.  As  the  tribe  was  well  represented  at  the  rendezvous,  the 
missionaries  were  able  to  make  arrangements  of  a  satisfactory 
nature  for  the  establishing  of  missions  in  their  country. 

In  1836,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman,  and  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Spalding, 
with  W.  H.  Gray,  as  financial  agent  of  the  missions,  crossed  the 
plains  to  Oregon.  They  journeyed  with  fur  traders  to  Green 
river,  where  they  found  their  Nez-Perce  allies  in  waiting.  The 
Indians  proposed  making  quite  a  detour  to  carry  out  their  plans 
for  buffalo  hunting,  and  as  Whitman  found  a  party  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  going  direct  towards  the  Columbia,  he 
accepted  an  invitation  to  accompany  them.  One  of  the  Nez-Perc6 
chiefs  went  with  them  as  an  honorable  escort. 

So  they  reached  the  Columbia,  where  the  Whitmans  located 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  191 

a  mission  on  the  Walla  Walla  river,  five  miles  below  the  city  that 
now  bears  that  name.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spalding  went  a  hundred 
miles  east  and  made  a  station  at  Lapwai,  in  the  heart  of  the  Nez- 
Perce  country.  It  is  not  necessary  to  fm-nish  particulars  of  their 
journey  across  the  continent.  Enough  has  been  said  on  that  sub- 
ject in  reciting  the  adventures  of  many  others.  They  were 
warmly  welcomed  and  immediately  went  to  work  to  build  stations 
and  erect  mills  and  establish  schools.  It  was  a  great  event  to 
these  native  tribes  to  have  Christian  teachers,  as  well  as  civilized 
workers,  among  them.  They,  for  a  while,  appreciated  their  ad- 
vantages, but  in  time  became  accustomed  to  them  as  a  matter  of 
course.  This  was  especially  true  of  the  Cayuses,  who  were,  among 
the  most  savage  and  barbarous  of  all  savages.  They  constantly 
imposed  upon  the  good  nature  and  forbearance  of  their  teachers 
and  made  life  distressing  to  them. 

locating  the  mission  stations. 

Dr.  Whitman  lived  and  labored  among  these  people  for 
eleven  years,  from  1836  to  1847.  He  taught  many  of  them  the 
rudiments  of  education  and  the  arts  of  civilized  life.  They  were 
instructed  in  the  use  of  tools  to  some  extent,  furnished  lumber,  and 
were  received  and  entertained  at  the  mission.  Much  pains  were 
taken  with  the  young,  and  much  kindness  shown  the  older 
ones.  In  1838  another  mission  was  established  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Fort  ColviUe,  among  the  Spokanes.  In  1839  a  print- 
ing press  was  at  work  at  Lapwai,  and  a  number  of  books 
and  pamphlets  were  published  for  the  use  of  different 
Indian  schools.  Still  another  mission  station  was  establislied 
farther  up  the  Clearwater,  at  Kamiah.  So  the  natives  of  that 
region  had  efficient  teachers  and  good  schools.  Only  at  Wliit- 
man's  station  was  there  ever  any  serious  trouble  or  iU  feeling. 
Individual  cases  of  rudeness  or  misconduct  occurred,  but  there 
was  fair  appreciation  and  good  feeling,  except  among  the  Cay- 
uses, whose  religious  sentiments  and  convictions  never  overcame 
their  savage  natures  to  make  them  reliably  peaceful,  and  con- 
sistently kind  and  honest. 

difficulties  and  dangers. 

From  1836  until  1841,  for  five  years,  there  was  no  opposition 
to  the  Protestant  missions  or  outside  interference  with  the 
mission  work.    The  Hudson  Bay  Company  was  in  full  accord. 


192  Indian  Massacre. 


Thougli  liimseK  a  Catholic,  Dr.  MeLougliliu  was  truly  a  Christian 
man,  and  treated  Whitman  with  the  truest  sympathy  and  person- 
al kindness.  [Dr.  McLoughlin  was  the  Father  of  Oregon.]  The 
two  men  naturally  accorded  in  their  personal  relations,  and 
the  officers  of  that  company  generally  were  friendly.  But  about 
1841,  the  disturbing  cause  that  was  to  be  so  potent  for  harm,  be- 
came established  among  the  natives  on  the  Upper  Columbia  in 
the  presence  of  Catholic  priests,  who  seciu'ed  a  hold,  and  left  no 
means  untried  to  increase  it.  Among  Cayuses  there  were  not 
only  differences  of  belief  in  the  tribe,  but  some  families 
were  of  divided  allegiance.  Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no 
serious  trouble,  but  now  the  record  we  have  shows  that  these  in- 
famous Cayuses  forced  indignities  upon  Dr.  Whitman  that  he 
could  not  resent.  His  Christian  character  was  at  stake.  He  must 
bear  and  forbear,  and  some  of  these  wretches  took  advantage  of 
this  fact  to  impose  upon  him  fearfully.  At  one  time  he  was 
struck,  or  had  his  ear  pulled,  b}'  a  man  he  had  taught  the 
Christian  virtue  of  forbearance.  He  tui-ned  the  other  ear  and  the 
savage  pulled  that  also.  It  was  one  man  and  a  defenseless  family, 
among  a  horde  of  miscreants.  It  would  seem  that  the  confidence 
shown  by  coming  there,  so  defenseless,  with  no  object  but  their 
good,  would  impress  even  the  soul  of  a  savage,  but  not  so  with 
Cayuses.  I  cannot  believe  that  the  presence  and  teachings  of  a 
rival  religion  had  not  some  part  to  account  for  these  indignities 
and  massacre  towards  which  they  culminated. 

DISTURBANCE   IN   THE   FOLD. 

The  history  of  missions  proves  the  weakness  of  human  nature. 
Differences  occur  even  among  those  who  devote  their  lives  to  the 
elevation  of  humanity.  This  is  especially  true  of  missions  in  far- 
off  places,  where  the  missionary  is  altogether  removed  from  the 
influences  of  society.  Thus  it  happened  in  this  Indian  mission 
that  at  an  early  day  disagreements  occurred. 

In  1841,  A.  B.  Smith  and  wife  left  for  the  islands.  Letters 
had  gone  home  to  the  American  board,  derogatory  of  the  working 
force.  The  natives  very  possibly  saw  that  differences  existed 
among  theii'  religious  teachers,  and  that  fact  may  have  worked  to 
a  disadvantage.  There  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  these  differ- 
ences lasted  longer  than  when  several  who  were  dissatisfied  had 
withdrawn.  You  have  published  already  a  letter  from  Rev.  E. 
Walker  to  the  board  that  treats  boldly  and  plainly  of  the  dis- 


Mission  Lite  among  the  Indians.  193 

turbing-  cause.  It  is  not  necessary  to  repeat  it  now.  The  Cayuses 
were  veritable  savages.  They  would  at  times  become  enraged  for 
some  cause  and  be  dangerous  to  all  at  the  mission.  Whatever 
irritated  them  made  them  ferocious  and  long  for  blood.  After  a 
war  trip  towards  California,  where  they  murdered  many  of  their 
old  enemies,  they  returned  home  to  dance  around  their  bloody 
scalps,  and  threaten  death  promiscuously.  At  that  period  the 
mission  party  was  in  great  fear,  but  time  passed  and  the  Indians 
became  good  tempered.  At  one  time  they  were  much  impressed, 
because  one  of  their  chiefs  on  his  death  bed  professed  Christian 
faith,  and  in  his  last  hours  experienced  an  ecstacy  of  joy,  and 
gave  them  good  counsel. 

CAYUSE   ILL  NATURE. 

In  all  the  upper  country  there  were  in  1840  to  1850  only  a 
few  trading  posts  and  a  few  mission  stations,  with  no  settlers  and 
no  military  posts.  The  missions  were  defenseless,  save  as  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company's  agents  bravely  espoused  their  cause. 
Mr.  Gray  had  built  a  new  house  ;  an  Indian  one  day  came  in  and 
placed  himself  between  the  cook  and  the  fire,  and  would  not  leave. 
Mr.  Gray  very  properly  put  him  out,  after  kindly  asking  him  to 
stand  aside.  Then  he  went  to  the  corral  and  took  a  horse.  When 
Whitman  was  appealed  to  he  supported  Gray.  This  led  to  an 
angry  talk ;  Telonkait,  an  Indian  chief,  pulled  the  doctor's  ear ; 
the  man  of  peace  turned  the  other,  and  he  pulled  that.  He  threw 
the  doctor's  hat  three  times  in  the  mud  and  struck  him  on  the 
breast.  Having  been  unable  to  force  Whitman  to  some  resist- 
ance that  would  be  an  excuse  for  a  massacre,  he  desisted.  Arch- 
ibald McKinlay  was  chief  trader  at  Wallula.  He  called  the 
Indians  there,  shortly  after  this  occurrence,  under  pretense  of 
wishing  to  buy  horses,  and  gave  them  a  terrible  overhauling  for 
this  treatment  of  one  who  came  among  them  only  for  their  good. 
He  said  it  was  the  conduct  of  *'  dogs,"  which  they  bitterly  re- 
sented. They  finally  admitted  they  had  done  wrong.  McKinlay 
threatened  that  a  force  should  come  up  from  Vancouver  to  punish 
them  if  they  did  any  harm.  They  had  gone  to  the  fort  at  this 
time  with  the  apparent  intention  to  capture  it.  They  had  made 
threats  to  that  effect  that  Whitman  reported  to  McKinlay  by  a 
coui'ier.  This  trouble  was  tided  over,  and  for  some  years  there 
was  no  particular  cause  for  complaint.  In  1842,  Whitman  went 
East,  making  the  midwinter  journey  heretofore  related.  He 
13 


194  Indian  Massacre. 


returned  in  the  summer  of  1843,  with  the  large  emigration  that 
permanently  settled  the  status  of  Oregon  as  an  American  country. 
He  found  his  mill  burned,  and  that  his  wife  had  been  obliged  to 
take  refuge  at  Vancouver  from  the  insolence  of  the  Cayuses. 
The  Indians  were  doubtless  disturbed  by  the  interest  Whitman 
took  in  peopling  the  country  with  white  settlers.  They  looked 
with  alarm  on  this  great  invasion  of  Americans,  and  their  preju- 
dice against  Whitman  was  somewhat  effected  for  that  reason. 
So  the  three  years  passed,  from  1844  to  1847,  and  whilst  their 
prejudice  was  more  confirmed.  Whitman  was  unwilling  to  aban- 
don the  field.  He  saw,  and  frequently  spoke  of,  this  hostile  senti- 
ment, and  expressed  an  intention  to  abandon  Waiilatpu,  but 
unhappily  did  not  make  the  movement. 

DISAFFECTION   INCREASES. 

At  this  time  a  change  had  taken  place  in  the  officer  in  charge 
at  Fort  Walla  Walla.  McKinlay,  Whitman's  fast  friend,  was 
living  at  Oregon  City,  and  his  successor  at  this  post  was  Wm.  Mc- 
Bean,  who  was  also  a  Catholic.  Both  at  Whitman's  and  Spalding's 
stations  there  had  been  considerable  improvement  among  the  In- 
dians in  their  occupations,  and  a  number  had  joined  the  church. 
But  in  1847  disaffection  became  more  manifest  among  the  Cayuses, 
and  Whitman  thought  seriously  of  submitting  the  question  of  his 
leaving  or  staying  to  their  popular  vote.  He  felt,  however,  that 
to  leave  would  be  to  abandon  the  field  to  the  Catholics,  and  that 
was  something  his  pride  could  not  submit  to.  This  season  was 
unfortunate,  because  disease  spread  among  the  natives  and  many 
died  of  it.  Whitman,  in  his  capacity  of  physician,  did  all  he 
could  for  them,  but  their  habits  of  life  were  such  that  he  could  not 
treat  them  satisfactorily. 

Whitman's  place  was  on  the  line  of  travel  taken  by  the  emigrants, 
and  was  a  place  of  general  rest  for  the  weary  sojourners  fresh  from 
the  plains.  The  presence  of  so  many  Americans  there  and  the 
fact  of  so  many  others  passing  through  to  occupy  the  country,  may 
have  had  an  unfavorable  effect. 

A  VIEW  OF  WAIILATPU. 

It  is  necessary  to  take  a  view  of  the  mission  and  its  occupants 
in  the  autumn  of  1847  to  understand  the  situation,  as  well  as  to 
appreciate  what  the  mission  had  accomplished  for  the  practical 
welfare  of  the  Indians.     The  mission  was  a  resting-place,  refuge 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  195 

or  hospital  for  emigrants  or  Indians  alike  who  might  need  its 
care.  Here  was  the  church  where  the  principles  of  religion  were 
taught  and  schools  were  established  to  educate  white  and  Indian 
children,  besides  which  every  effort  was  made  to  teach  the  Cayuses 
and  WaUa  Wallas  the  common  arts  of  civilization  and  the  best 
methods  for  cultivating  the  soU.  For  their  benefit  not  only 
church,  school  and  library  were  sustained,  but  there  were  labor 
lessons  given,  and  saw-  and  grist-miUs,  shops  and  granaries  had 
been  erected.  A  valuable  cabinet  of  specimens  of  natural  history 
had  been  collected  at  the  superintendent's  residence.  There  was 
a  spacious  building  for  the  Indians,  another  for  travellers.  The 
saw-miU  was  eight  miles  up  Mill  creek. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1847,  seventy-two  persons  occupied 
these  premises,  consisting  of  the  Whitmans  and  Rodgers,  the  mis- 
sionary, with  ten  adopted  children,  waifs  from  the  plains,  whose 
parents  had  perished  by  the  way.  Seven  of  them  were  the  Sager 
family,  and  there  were  three  half-breed  children.  Twenty-two 
persons  occupied  the  superintendent's  house.  Joseph  Stanfield 
was  a  Canadian  and  Joseph  Lewis  was  a  half-breed  Indian  who 
had  crossed  the  plains  from  Canada  the  preceding  year,  and  had 
received  employment  after  he  recovered  from  a  serious  illness. 
He  was  a  wretch,  who  should  have  had  some  love  for  his  benefac- 
tors instead  of  being  the  fiend  he  soon  proved.  There  was  Miss 
Bewley  and  her  brother ;  Mr.  Hoffman,  Mr.  Soles  and  Eliza  Spal- 
ding, daughter  of  the  missionary.  There  were  fifty  others  of  the 
last  immigration  resting  there  on  their  way  to  Western  Oregon. 
Bewley  and  Sales  were  sick  patients.  Ten  of  the  emigrants  also 
were  sick  patients.  Such  was  the  composition  of  the  mission 
family. 

whitman's  work. 

It  can  be  seen  that  Whitman's  work  was  most  beneficient  and 
useful  to  all  mankind.  Here,  in  the  midst  of  savages,  Dr.  Whit- 
man had  lived  through  eleven  years  and  had  patiently  endured 
privations  and  hardships  to  benefit  a  race  that  could  not  appreciate 
his  devotion.  To  them  he  brought  civilized  life  and  its  comforts 
without  any  resulting  benefits  to  himself  or  to  his  family.  His 
character  commended  him  so  greatly  to  Dr.  McLoughlin  that  the 
great  chief  factor  felt  for  him  the  warmest  friendship.  Differing 
in  religion,  they  respected  each  other;  strongly  differing  in  all 
political  and  national  purposes,  they  were  more  than  friends. 
While  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  was  bringing  over  colonies  to 


196  Indian  Massacre. 


people  Oregon  and  make  it  British  by  occupancy,  Dr.  Whitman 
went  East  to  lead  back  a  great  emigration  that  should  make  this 
country  distinctively  American.  In  all  things,  save  personal  re- 
gard, these  men  were  at  swords'  points  and  antagonized.  It  shows 
the  nobility  of  soul  that  each  possessed;  that,  laying  aside  these 
points  of  difference,  they  met  as  something  more  than  friends. 
McLoughlin  invited  Whitman  to  Vancouver  when  the  troubles  of 
1841  occurred,  and  recommended  that  he  should  withdraw  from 
Waiilatpu  for  some  time  until  the  Indians  should  feel  his  absence 
and  ask  his  return.  This  was  sound  advice.  A  few  weeks  before 
the  massacre  Dr.  Whitman  was  at  Oregon  City  and  visited  his 
friend  Archibald  McKinlay.  When  he  told  the  latter  that  a  chief 
had  jestingly  said  to  him  that  ''  the  Cayuses  had  con.sidered 
whether  they  ought  not  to  kill  off  all  the  medicine  men,  and  that 
as  he  was  greatest  among  doctors,  if  they  did  so  they  should  be- 
gin with  him,"  McKinlay  was  alarmed.  He  told  Whitman  that 
behind  a  savage  jest  there  was  always  deeper  meaning;  that  he 
was  in  great  danger  if  such  a  remark  had  been  made.  But  Whit- 
man answered  that  he  knew  it  was  only  a  jest,  though  he  did  not 
like  his  position  and  did  not  intend  to  long  retain  it.  When  re- 
turning from  that  trip,  after  receiving  the  deepest  warning  Mc- 
Kinlay could  give,  Dr.  Whitman  met  a  company  of  emigrants  on 
the  way  down  to  The  Dalles  and  was  invited  to  talk  to  them  over 
the  evening  camp  fire.  He  did  so,  and  Judge  Grim  remembers 
well  that  he  spoke  very  plainly  of  his  danger  among  the  Cayuses 
and  said  it  was  his  intention  to  remove  before  many  months. 

A   TREACHEROUS   VILLAIN. 

Joe  Lewis  was  employed  by  Dr.  Whitman  as  an  act  of  kind- 
ness, and  was  therefore  about  the  house  and  with  the  family.  So 
the  Indians  found  it'  convenient  to  believe  the  various  stories  he 
told  them  of  what  he  saw  and  overheard.  It  is  not  easier  to  ima- 
gine a  blacker  soul  than  this  wretch  possessed,  and  less  easy  to 
depict  in  words  the  vileness  and  blackness  of  the  treachery  and 
falsehoods  he  proved  capable  of.  He  had  been  the  recipient  of 
kind  treatment  during  illness,  and  when  able  to  work  was  furnish- 
ed employment.  All  the  instincts  of  common  humanity  would 
have  been  roused  to  appreciate  this  kindness,  but  Joe  Lewis  had 
no  such  capacity.  He  was  in  a  position  to  do  the  greatest  possible 
harm.  As  an  inmate  of  the  mission  house  he  was  privileged  to 
hear  the  ordinary  conversation  that  occurred  there.     As  a  half- 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  197 

breed  Indian  he  could  and  did  ingratiate  himself  with  the  Cayuses 
and  obtained  not  only  their  confidence,  but  a  certain  power  over 
their  minds  that  came  from  his  acquired  abilities  among  the  "Whites. 
Lewis  insidiously  repeated  to  these  credulous  and  prejudiced  be- 
ings who  could  not  hear  a  story  they  were  not  mlling  to  believe, 
conversations  that  he  pretended  to  have  overheard  in  the  doctor's 
house.  It  was  a  time  of  terrible  trial  among  them  all.  At  the 
mission  there  was  a  hospital  of  sick  patients  and  many  of  the 
Cayuses  were  sick ;  thirty  had  died  and  the  voice  of  lamentation 
and  mourning  was  all  around  them. 

CAYUSES  IN  council. 

After  the  massacre  occurred.  Gov.  Ogden,  of  the  H.  B.  com- 
pany, came  up  in  the  interest  of  humanity  to  secure  the  safety 
and  return  of  the  numerous  captives  held  by  the  Cayuses.  Before 
his  arrival  on  December  20th,  the  Cayuse  murderers  held  a  coun- 
cil at  Umatilla,  where  Bishop  Blanchet  was  present.  He  said  their 
object  was  to  prevent  war,  and  if  they  had  met  in  council  before 
the  massacre,  most  likely  it  would  not  have  occurred.  Several  In- 
dians made  speeches  and  explained  their  various  complaints.  The 
Chief  Telan-Kaiht  spoke  for  two  hours.  He  recounted  the  killing 
of  the  two  Nez-Perces  who  went  east  with  Mr.  Gray  in  1837. 
(They  were  killed  by  the  Sioux.)  Also  that  the  young  Chief  Eli- 
jah was  killed  by  Americans  in  California.  He  claimed  that  as 
the  Indians  forgot  these  things  so  the  Whites  could  forget  the 
massacre  at  Waiilatpu.  They  sent  word  to  Gov.  Abernethy  "that 
a  young  Indian  (Joe  Lewis)  who  understands  English  and  who 
slept  in  Dr.  Whitman's  room,  heard  the  doctor,  his  wife  and  Mr. 
Spalding  express  their  desire  of  possessing  the  land  and  animals 
of  the  Indians;  that  Mr.  Spalding  said  to  the  doctor:  'Hurry 
giving  medicine  to  the  Indians  that  they  may  soon  die;'  that  the 
same  Indian  told  the  Cayuses :  'If  you  do  not  kiU  the  doctor  soon 
you  will  all  be  dead  before  spring ;'  that  they  buried  six  Cayuses 
on  Sunday,  November  24th,  and  three  the  next  day;  that  the 
schoolmaster,  Mr.  Rodgers,  stated  to  them  before  he  died  that  the 
doctor,  his  wife  and  Spalding  poisoned  the  Indians ;  that  for  seve- 
ral years  past  they  had  to  deplore  the  death  of  their  children ; 
that,  according  to  these  reports,  they  were  led  to  believe  that  the 
Whites  had  undertaken  to  kill  them  all,  and  that  these  were  the 
motives  that  led  them  to  kill  the  Americans." 


198  Indian  Massacre. 


THE  MASSACRE. 

The  morning  of  the  massacre,  matters  were  proceeding  as 
usual  at  Waiilatpu,  and  there  was  no  indication  of  unusual  feel- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  Cayuses.  There  had  been  numerous  deaths 
among  them  from  measles,  caused  greatly  by  their  indiscretion 
and  methods  of  treatment  that  made  the  medical  advice  of  Dr. 
Whitman  and  his  prescriptions  of  small  avail.  Many  of  the 
Whites  at  the  mission  were  also  in  hospital,  and  only  that  native 
superstition  was  roused  and  controlled  reason,  they  should  have 
seen  that  they  had  no  cause  for  suspicion  that  Joe  Lewis  told  the 
truth  when  he  said  that  he  had  overheard  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman 
and  Mr.  Spalding  plan  their  wholesale  poisoning.  They  believed 
Whitman  possessed  supernatural  powers,  and  were  incensed  that 
he  did  not  exercise  them  for  their  benefit. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  of  November  29,  1847,  school  had  been 
called,  an  ox  had  been  slaughtered  and  was  being  dressed  at  a 
little  distance  from  the  house,  and  quite  a  number  of  Indians 
came  about  the  same,  as  was  their  custom  when  an  animal  was 
slaughtered  and  a  carcass  cut  up.  This  unusual  number  attracted 
the  attention  of  Dr.  Whitman,  but  caused  no  alarm.  The  con- 
spirators assembled  in  this  manner,  with  arms  concealed  under 
their  blankets.  One  of  them  called  the  doctor  out,  complained  of 
iUness  and  demanded  medicine.  When  the  doctor  was  attending 
to  this  man,  Ta-ma-hos  came  behind  and  felled  the  doctor  with 
two  heavy  blows  of  a  tomahawk.  This  initiated  a  general  butch- 
ery, and  once  let  loose,  the  demoniac  nature  of  the  Cajoises  had 
full  sway.  They  killed  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman,  Missionary  Rod- 
gers.  Schoolmaster  Saunders,  two  Sager  boys,  Messrs.  Marsh,  Kim- 
ball, Gill,  Gittern,  Young,  and  the  two  sick  men,  Bewley  and 
Sales.  Mrs.  Whitman  was  the  only  woman  slain ;  the  lives  of 
other  women  and  childi'en  were  spared.  Mr.  HaU,  Mr.  Canfield, 
and  Mr.  Osborn  and  family,  a  child  of  Mr.  Hayes,  and  two  adopted 
children  concealed  themselves  in  the  confusion  and  escaped  in 
safety,  after  much  suffering  and  anxiety,  to  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
twenty-five  miles  north. 

CHIEF   TRADER   M'BEAN'S   LETTER. 

The  families  of  Smith  and  Young  were  at  the  saw-mill,  eight 
miles  away,  and  were  brought  to  the  station  the  next  day.  The 
intercession  of  peaceable  Nez-Perc6  chiefs  was  influential  to  save 
their  lives.     There  were  four  men,  including  two  grown  up  sons. 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  199 

The  Cayuses  had  in  their  hands  fifty-one  prisoners.  The  young 
men  of  the  tribe  appropriated  the  women  and  girls  among  their 
captives  to  their  own  lust,  and  to  a  fate  worse  than  death.  On 
arrival  of  the  fugitives  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Chief  Trader  Mc- 
Bean  sent  an  interpreter  and  man  to  Waiilatpu  to  rescue  any  sur- 
vivors, and  forwarded  letters  to  Fort  Vancouver  with  a  statement 
of  the  facts  as  he  heard  them,  and  wi'ote  as  follows  :  "  Fever  and 
ague  have  been  raging  here  and  in  this  vicinity,  in  consequence  of 
which  a  great  number  of  Indians  have  been  swept  away,  but  more 
especially  at  the  doctoi*'s  (Whitman's)  place,  where  he  attended  on 
the  Indians.  About  thirty  of  the  Cayuse  tribe  died,  one  after 
another.  The  survivors  eventually  believed  the  doctor  had  poi- 
soned them,  in  which  opinion  they  were  unfortunately  confirmed 
by  one  of  the  doctoi-'s  party  (Joe  Lewis).  As  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  learn  this  has  been  the  sole  cause  of  the  dreadful  butchery. 
In  order  to  satisfy  any  doubt  as  to  their  suspicion  that  the  doctor 
was  poisoning  them,  it  is  reported  that  they  requested  the  doctor 
to  administer  medicine  to  three  of  their  friends,  two  of  whom 
were  really  sick,  but  the  third  only  feigning  illness.  AU  of  these 
were  corpses  the  next  morning." 

GOV.   DOUGLAS'  ACCOUNT. 

The  leaders  in  the  massacre  were  Telo  Kaikt,  his  son,  Tarn 
Sucky,  Esticus  and  Tamahos.  The  Walla  WaUa  Indians  were  not 
implicated.  Governor  Douglas  wrote  thus  to  Governor  Aber- 
nethy :  "  The  Cayuses  are  the  most  treacherous  and  intractable 
of  aU  Indian  tribes  in  this  country,  and  had  on  many  former 
occasions  alarmed  the  inmates  of  the  mission  by  their  tumultuous 
proceedings  and  ferocious  threats  ;  but,  unfortunately,  these  evi- 
dences of  a  brutal  disposition  were  disregarded  by  their  admirable 
pastor,  and  served  to  arm  him  with  a  firmer  resolution  to  do  them 
good.  He  hoped  that  time  and  instruction  would  produce  a 
change  of  mind,  a  better  state  of  feeling  towards  the  mission,  and 
he  might  have  lived  to  see  his  hopes  realized  had  not  the  measles 
and  dysentery,  following  in  the  train  of  immigrants  from  the 
United  States,  made  frightful  ravages  this  year  in  the  upper 
country,  many  Indians  having  been  carried  off  through  the  vio- 
lence of  the  disease,  and  others  through  their  own  imprudence. 
The  Cayuse  Indians  of  Waiilatpu,  being  sufferers  in  this  general 
calamity,  were  incensed  against  Dr.  Whitman  for  not  exercising 
his  supposed  supernatural  power  in  saving  their  lives.      They 


200  Indian  Massacre. 


carried  this  absurdity  beyond  that  point  of  folly.     Their  super- 
stitious minds  became  possessed  with  the  horrible  suspicion  that 
he  was  giving  poison  to  the  sick  instead  of  wholesome  medicine, 
with  a  view  of  working  the  destruction  of  the  tribe,  their  former 
cruelty  probably  adding  strength  to  this  suspicion.     Still  some  of 
the  more  reflecting  had  confidence  in  Dr.  Whitman's  integrity, 
and  it  was  agreed  to  test  the  effect  of  the  medicines  he  had  furn- 
ished on  three  of  their  people,  one  of  whom  was  said  to  be  in 
perfect    health.      They    all,    unfortunately,    died.      From    that 
moment  it  was  resolved  to  destroy  the  mission.     It  was  immedi- 
ately after  bui*}dng  the  remains  of  these  three  persons  that  they 
repaired  to  the  mission  and  murdered  every  man  found  there. 
This  happened  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     The  Indians  arrived 
at  the  mission  one  after  another,  with  their  arms  hid  under  their 
blankets.      The  doctor  was   at   school  with  the   children.      The 
others  were  cutting  up  an  ox  they  had  just  killed.     When  the 
Indians  saw  they  were  numerous  enough  to  effect  their  object, 
they  fell  upon  the  poor  victims,  some  with  guns  and  others  with 
hatchets,  and  their  blood  was  soon  streaming  on  all  sides.     Some 
of  the  Indians  turned  their  attention  towards  the  doctor.  He  received 
a  pistol  shot  in  the  breast  from  one,  and  a  blow  on  the  head  with 
a  hatchet  from  another.     He  had  still  strength  enough  remaining 
to  reach  a  sofa,  where  he  threw  himself  down  and  expired.     Mrs. 
Whitman  was  dragged  from  the  garret  and  mercilessly  butchered 
at  the  door.    Mr.  Rodgers  was  shot  after  his  life  had  been  granted  to 
hiTTi  ;  the  women  and  children  were  also  going  to  be  murdered 
when  a  voice  was  raised  to  ask  for  mercy  in  favor  of  those  whom 
they  thought  innocent,  and  their  lives  were  spared.  It  is  reported 
that  a  kind  of  deposition  made  by  a  Mr.  Rodgers  increased  the 
fury  of  this  savage  mob.     Mr.  Rodgers  was  seized,  was  made  to 
sit  down,  and  then  told  that  his  life  would  be  spared  if  he  made  a 
full  discovery  of  Dr.  Whitman's  supposed  treachery.     That  person 
then  told  the  Indians  that  the  doctor  intended  to  poison  them , 
that  one  night  when  Mr,  Spalding  was  at  Waiilatpu  he  heard 
them  say  that  the  Indians  ought  to  be  poisoned  so   that  the 
Americans  might  take  possession  of  their  lands.     That  the  doctor 
wished  to  poison  all  the  Indians  at  once,  but  that  Mr.  Spalding 
advised  him  to  do  it  gradually.     Mr.  Rodgers,  after  this  deposi- 
tion, was  spared,  but  an  Indian  who  was  not  present,  having  seen 
him,  fired  at  and  killed  him.     An  American  made  a  similar  de- 
position, adding  that  Mrs.  Whitman  was  an  accomplice,  and  de- 


Mission  Lipe  among  the  Indians.  201 

served  death  as  well  as  her  husband.  It  appears  that  he  con- 
cluded by  saying  that  he  would  take  the  side  of  the  Indians,  and 
detested  Americans.  An  Indian  then  put  a  pistol  in  his  hand, 
and  said  to  him,  '4f  you  tell  the  truth,  you  must  prove  it  by 
shooting  that  young  American,"  and  this  wretched  apostate  from 
his  country  fired  upon  the  young  man  shown  to  him,  and  laid 
him  dead  at  his  feet.  It  was  on  the  evidence  of  that  American 
that  Mrs.  Whitman  was  murdered,  or  she  might  have  shared  in 
the  mercy  extended  to  the  other  females  and  children." 

"  Such  are  the  details  as  far  as  known  of  that  disastrous 
event,  and  the  causes  which  led  to  it.  Mr.  Rodgers'  reported 
deposition,  if  correct,  is  unworthy  of  belief,  having  been  drawn 
from  him  by  the  fear  of  instant  death.  The  other  American,  who 
shed  the  blood  of  his  own  friend,  must  be  a  villain  of  the  darkest 
dye,  and  ought  to  suffer  for  his  aggravated  crime." 

A  LITTLE   CRITTCISM. 

In  McBean's  letter  to  Vancouver  he  gives  the  Indian  version 
of  their  case,  and  alludes  to  Joe  Lewis  as  ''  one  of  the  doctor's 
party."  The  letter  of  Douglas  calls  this  infamous  Joe  Lewis  re- 
peatedly "  an  American."  The  fact  was  that  Joe  Lewis  was  a 
Canadian  half-breed,  accidentally  at  the  mission.  He  came  there 
ill  and  was  nursed  in  hospital.  When  he  recovered  he  was  furn- 
ished work.  All  the  tenor  of  Mr.  Douglas'  letter  is  unfair,  be- 
cause it  gives  the  Indian  version  throughout.  The  Cayuses  were 
too  sharp  to  believe  Joe  Lewis'  story  that  he  was  in  the  same  room 
with  Mr.  Spalding  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman  when  they  planned 
to  poison  the  Indians.  They  knew  better  than  to  credit  such  a 
story.  It  is  not  probable  that  any  well  Indian  would  go  up  with 
two  sick  ones  to  receive  medicine  from  Dr.  Whitman  and  then 
tp-ke  the  medicine,  as  is  related  by  both  McBean  and  Douglas. 
That  story  is  too  thin  for  credence.  The  story  of  Mr.  Rodger's 
deposition  and  treachery  to  the  Whitmans  is  not  even  plausible. 
All  these  matters  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  officials  rei:)eat  so 
confidently,  could  be  easily  manufactured  as  evidence  by  the 
Cayuses.  Joe  Lewis  undoubtedly  betrayed  the  mission,  and  told 
infamous  lies  to  the  Cayuses  that  led  them  to  the  massacre.  Their 
own  bad  natures  and  the  unhappy  intrigue  and  rivalry  of  another 
religious  party  were  the  chief  causes  of  the  massacre. 

GOV.    OGDEN   TO   THE  RESCUE. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  Peter  Skeen  Ogden,  associate  chief 


202  Indian  Massacre. 


factor  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  with  a  party  of  sixteen  men, 
left  Vancouver  for  Walla  Walla,  to  rescue  and  ransom  the  fifty- 
one  captives  held  by  the  Cayuses.  It  required  until  the  23d  to 
collect  a  council  of  the  Cayuses,  and  then  several  days  were  spent 
in  talk  and  arranging  preliminaries.  They  were  anxious  to  avoid 
war,  and  afraid  the  Americans  would  come  in  force  from  Western 
Oregon  to  punish  them,  and  that  fear  was  soon  realized.  Mr. 
Ogden  would  make  them  no  promises  of  peace,  but  did  arrange 
for  the  ransom  of  their  prisoners  on  December  31.  He  wrote  as 
follows :  "  I  have  endured  many  an  anxious  hour,  and  for  the 
last  two  nights  have  not  closed  my  eyes,  but  thanks  to  the 
Almighty  I  have  succeeded.  During  the  captivity  of  the  prisoners 
they  have  suffered  every  indignity,  but  fortunately  were  well 
provided  with  food.  I  have  been  able  to  effect  my  object  without 
compromising  myself  or  others.  It  now  remains  with  the  Amer- 
ican Government  to  take  what  measure  it  deems  most  beneficial 
to  restore  tranquility.  This,  I  apprehend,  cannot  be  finally 
effected  without  blood  flowing  freely.  So  as  not  to  compromise 
either  party,  I  have  made  a  heavy  sacrifice  of  goods,  but  these, 
indeed,  are  of  trifling  value  compared  to  the  unfortunate  beings  I 
have  rescued  from  the  hands  of  these  murderous  wretches,  and  I 
am  truly  happy." 

It  is  agreeable  to  find  one  ofl&cer  of  that  great  company  who 
could  wi'ite  in  plain  Anglo-Saxon,  and  make  no  half  way  excuses 
for  Cayuse  savagery.  The  active  interposition  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  alone  could  have  effected  the  noble  object  Governor 
Ogden  so  generously  accomplished,  and  we  must  give  Mr.  Douglas 
full  credit  for  his  interest  in  the  work ;  even  though  we  criticise 
the  seeming  unfairness  of  his  relation  of  the  massacre  and  at- 
tendant circumstances. 

The  Nez-Perces  remained  peaceful,  but  their  mission,  as  also 
that  of  Spokane,  was  broken  up  and  never  resumed  their  effi- 
ciency. All  the  property  at  Waiilatpu  was  destroyed,  and  the 
burning  of  Dr.  Whitman's  papers  caused  a  loss  to  history  that 
cannot  be  replaced.  The  faithful  and  earnest  labor  of  many 
years  was  thus  worse  than  lost.  The  tragic  story  that  attaches 
to  the  Walla  Walla  river,  will  remain  one  of  the  many  legends  of 
the  past,  and  it  is  hardly  possible  any  other  can  ever  equal  it,  as 
the  history  of  the  Cayuses  is  almost  closed. 

S.  A.  Clarke. 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  203 


Indians  of  Puget  Sound,  in  1852. 


''an  inspired  speculator. 

So  pleased  was  Captain  Sayward  with  the  natural  beauties  of 
the  country — the  virginal  beauties,  yet  unrifled  by  commerce— that 
he  hired  a  canoe,  with  an  Indian  and  his  squaw  as  the  propelling 
power,  and  set  out  down  the  Sound  to  Port  Ludlow,  a  distance  of 
one  hundred  miles  from  Olympia.  He  was  in  search  of  a  mill  site. 
In  all  these  many  miles  there  was  not  a  white  man  to  be  seen. 
Only  the  Indian  had 

'  A  lodge  in  this  vast  wilderness. 
This  boundless  contiguity  of  shade.' 

One  hundred  and  more  miles  of  an  unbroken  forest  of  magni- 
ficent timber,  running  back  to  the  Olympian  range  some  fifty  or 
sixty  miles  !  Although  used  to  the  pine  forests  of  the  Penobscot 
in  Maine  and  the  St.  John  in  New  Brunswick,  the  sight  of  so 
much  unclaimed  ligneous  wealth  affected  our  speculator's  brain  a 
trifle,  and  he  could  scarcely  contain  himseK.  '  My  God !  what  a 
country,'  he  exclaimed,  rising  in  the  canoe  at  the  same  time,  to  the 
imminent  danger  of  an  upset.  'I'd  like  to  turn  all  the  people  of 
the  State  of  Maine  in  here,  each  man  carrying  a  narrow  axe.' 
With  arms  extended  and  eyes  dilated,  Sayward  gave  the  Indians 
the  impression  that  they  had  a  crazy  man  for  a  passenger,  and  ex- 
changing a  few  words  they  rested  on  their  paddles.  But  he  soon 
got  over  his  ecstasy  and  bade  them  go  to  work  again.  Simple 
savages !  Accustomed  to  look  from  Nature  up  to  Nature's  God, 
they  did  not  know  they  were  introducing  to  these  magnificent 
scenes  the  pioneer  of  a  race  that  only  looked  from  Nature  to  a 
market, 

the  indans  on  the  sound. 

The  site  was  chosen  at  Port  Ludlow  and  the  mill  erected  in 
March,  1853,  the  machinery  for  which  was  made  by  the  brothers 
James  and  Peter  Donahue,  then  in  the  foundry  business  in  San 
Francisco.  The  Captain  remained  at  the  Sound  tiU  1858.  There 
were  about  300  Chimicum  and  Clallam  Indians  on  the  site  Sayward 
selected,  but  they  gave  no  trouble.  They  moved  away  quietly 
when  requested,  especially  as  they  were  promised  all  the  lumber 
they  needed  to  build  more  substantial  huts  than  those  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed.  The  testimony  of  Captain  Sayward 
is  interesting  as  to  the  habits  and  disposition  of  the  Sound  Indians 


204  Indian  Massacre. 


at  this  early  period,  before  the  Whites  came  in  such  numbers  as 
to  impinge  upon  their  freedom  and  narrow  hunting  grounds, 
causing  the  famous  war  of  1855—56,  when  the  redskins  of  "Wash- 
ington Territory  held  a  grand  powwow  to  consider  the  advisability 
of  driving  all  the  white  invaders  into  the  sea.  At  that  time  Gen- 
eral I.  I.  Stevens — afterwards  killed  at  Ball's  Bluff  with  Colonel 
Baker — was  Governor  of  the  Territory,  and  McCleUan  was  on  his 
staff.  General  (then  Lieutenant)  Grant  was  in  the  field  fighting 
the  Indians,  and  so  was  Lieutenant  Scott,  son  of  Dr.  Scott,  long 
pastor  of  Calvary  Church,  in  this  city.  But  this  is  a  digression. 
Captain  Sayward  had  no  trouble  with  the  Indians.  .  He  employed 
a  gi'eat  many  in  and  about  the  mill,  and  always  found  them  in- 
dustrious and  trustworthy.  They  were  singularly  tenacious  in 
fulfilling  a  trust.  Often,  when  the  supply  of  whiskey  ran  short — 
for  it  is  next  to  impossible  that  a  saw-mill  can  be  run  without  the 
"  Kentucky  brew " — he  would  send  a  couple  of  his  Indians  with 
money  to  Olympia,  by  canoe,  to  get  a  barrel.  This  is  about  as 
severe  a  test  as  can  be  given  an  Indian.  But  they  brought  the 
whiskey  home  and  delivered  it  intact.  It  is  true,  that  if  the  Cap- 
tain's back  was  turned,  after  the  trust  was  fulfilled,  they  would  not 
hesitate  to  steal  the  liquor.  They  had  but  dim  ideas  of  the  law  of 
meum  and  tuum.  But  they  never  broke  their  faith,  no  matter  how 
strong  the  temptation,  when  intrusted  with  a  mission.  In  the 
subsequent  troubles,  when  the  life  of  every  white  man  on  the 
Sound  was  in  danger.  Captain  Sayward  found  the  benefit  of  his 
kindness  and  confidence  in  the  Indians  during  his  early  intercourse 
with  them.  The  hostiles  never  menaced  him,  and  his  property  re- 
mained undisturbed.  In  his  opinion,  so  far  as  concerns  the  In- 
dians who  came  under  his  immediate  observation  in  his  experiences 
on  the  north-west  coast,  the  poet  spoke  as  much  truth  as  poetry, 
when  he  said : 

I  love  the  Indian  ;  ere  the  white  man  came 
And  taught  him  vice  and  infamy  and  shame, 
His  soul  was  noble.     In  the  sun  he  saw 
His  God,  and  worshipped  him  with  trembling  awe. 

RELIGIOUS  PECULIARITIES. 

And  this  poetic  expression  leads  naturally  to  the  fact  that  the 
Sound  Indians  used  to  be  very  religious,  in  their  way ;  religion 
being  defined  as  the  observance  of  certain  forms,  whether  Christian 
or  pagan.     Certainly,  the  Chimicums  and  ClaUams,  simple  sons  of 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  205 

the  forest  and  the  sea,  had  their  time  pretty  well  divided  between 
providing  for  their  physical  wants  and  worshipping  deities,  seen 
and  unseen.  The  moon  in  its  twelve  changes  represented  to  the 
Indian  twelve  gods,  and,  when  it  was  fuU-orbed,  a  grand  festival 
was  held  in  honor  of  the  deity  of  that  particular  month.  The 
annual  festival  was  in  honor  of  the  sun,  that  luminary  being 
dignified  by  the  name,  in  the  Chinook  jargon,  '  Hyas  tyee  Tema- 
nowos,'  or  the  god  of  all,  the  god  of  gods.  At  these  festivals, 
monthly  as  weU  as  annual,  all  the  Indians  on  the  Sound  gathered; 
there  were  thousands  in  1852,  where  there  are  hundreds  now. 
Each,  squaws  as  well  as  bucks,  was  provided  with  a  piece  of  split 
log  called  in  the  Eastern  prairie  States  '  puncheon.'  It  was  un- 
dressed and  full  of  splinters.  Seated  in  a  circle,  the  size  of  which 
depended  on  the  number  of  worshippers  present,  they  waited  in 
silence  for  the  rising  of  Luna — to  these  savages  a  god,  to  the 
pagans  of  old  a  goddess.  As  soon  as  the  silver  disk  showed  above 
the  horizon,  the  chief,  or  leader  of  the  ceremonies,  led  off  with  a 
short,  weird  chant,  which  was  taken  up  by  the  whole  assemblage, 
until,  from  the  exact  time  kept  by  beating  on  the  'puncheons,'  a 
kind  of  rhythm  resulted — not  exactly  as  harmonious  as  that  de- 
scribed by  Milton,  when  he  said  of  the  heavenly  host  that  they 

'  Sang  hallelujahs  as  the  sound  of  seas,' 
but  a  rude  chorus,  rising  with  each  repetition  till  the  eighth  was 
reached,  and  then  da  cajw.  Some  of  the  notes  were  drawn  out  like 
the  wail  of  a  banshee,  and  others  dropped  on  the  ear  like  the  stac- 
cato of  musketry  fire.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  this  chant  as  it  rang  through  the  solemn  aisles  of  the 
stately  forest,  while  the  lapping  waves  (their  circle  was  always 
formed  on  the  seashore)  at  the  feet  of  the  dusky  singers  murmur- 
ed a  subdued  accompaniment.  This  kind  of  worship  was  a  test  of 
endurance.  All  night  long  it  was  sustained,  all  the  next  day,  the 
next  night  and  the  day  following,  sometimes — no  food  passing  the 
Indians'  lips  in  the  meantime — until  one  or  more  of  the  number 
were  used  up. 

THE   NEW"   BIRTH. 

It  was  at  the  grand  annual  festival  of  the  Sun,  held  at  Clal- 
lam Bay,  that  this  interesting  ceremony  was  witnessed.  There 
were  thousands  of  Indians  present,  and  the  chanting  had  lasted 
for  two  days,  when  one  of  the  number  succumbed  to  sheer  ex- 
haustion, falling  supine  and  apparently  lifeless.     Then  the  chant 


206  Indian  Massacee. 


ceased  and  he  was  taken  to  the  sweat-house.  After  undergoing  a 
hot  air  bath  for  some  fifteen  minutes,  he  was  rolled  in  a  blanket, 
and  put  on  a  shelf  to  dry.  He  remained  in  this  state  for  hours, 
sometimes  days — in  fact  it  was  doubtful  if  he  could  re\dve. 
From  tests  made,  the  cataleptic  redskin  was  quite  insensible  to 
pain.     One  of  the  Indians,  who  spoke  a  little  English,  was  asked: 

"  Does  the  man  ever  die  ?  " 

"  Sometimes,"  he  replied ;  "  sometimes  the  spirit  lose  his  way 
and  cannot  come  back.     Then  Indian  die." 

The  present  subject,  when  he  did  recover  consciousness,  was 
led  forth  by  his  friends  to  a  position  in  the  circle  near  the  chief. 
And  now  another  interesting  part  of  the  ceremonies  began.  The 
restored  Indian  looked  about  him  for  a  while  in  a  dazed  sort  of 
way,  and  presently  spoke,  at  first  in  a  low  tone,  raising  his  voice 
by  degrees.  There  was  a  reverential  hush  throughout  the 
circle,  and  every  head  was  bent,  eager  to  catch  the  words  of  the 
speaker.  He  was  considered  the  favorite  of  the  god  of  the  month, 
and  the  communication  he  had  to  make  was  given  him  while  he 
lay  unconscious.  Often  his  speech  lasted  an  hour,  and  it  was 
generally  an  exhortation  or  tribal  lesson  to  his  fellows  on  their 
simple  duties,  and  whether  the  god  was  pleased  or  displeased  with 
their  conduct.  As  soon  as  he  had  ceased  he  commenced  to  part 
with  his  worldly  possessions.  To  one  he  gave  his  canoe,  to  another 
his  Hudson  Bay  Company  gun  or  his  bow  and  arrows,  to  another 
his  wickiup,  to  a  fourth  his  cooking  utensils,  his  horses,  etc.  At 
last,  stripped  of  all  his  goods,  he  stood  with  only  the  old  blanket 
covering  him ;  then  the  principal  chief  advanced,  and,  withdraw- 
ing the  fastening  at  the  throat,  let  this  drop  about  the  heels  of 
the  messenger  from  the  unseen,  and  he  stood  before  his  tribe 
naked  as  when  he  first  came  into  the  world.  This  was  the  new 
birth.  He  was  considered  as  born  again  by  the  ordeal  through 
which  he  had  passed,  and  ready  to  commence  life  once  more. 
After  a  pause  the  medicine  man,  taking  a  brand  new  blanket, 
approached  the  ''  infant  adult "  and  covered  his  nakedness,  manip- 
idating  his  head  with  every  sign  of  affection,  and  crooning  a  song 
of  rejoicing  at  the  same  time.  A  mighty  shout  went  up  from  the 
tribe  as  they  also  welcomed  the  new  chief — the  favorite  of  their 
god.  Such  was  the  scene  to  be  witnessed  at  Port  Ludlow,  or  Port 
Gamble,  Olympia,  or  some  other  selected  spot  on  the  Sound,  before 
the  white  man  invaded  the  ''  forests  primeval."  It  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed the  ''  noble  red  men"  are  too  busy  nowadays  attending  to 


Mission  Life  aiviong  the  Indians.  207 

the  slabs  and  scantling  of  the  saw-mills  ;  and  his  chants  to  the  moon, 
if  he  indulge  in  any,  are  drowned  by  the  scurr  of  a  thousand 
circulars,  converting  his  forests  into  money  for  the  pale-face. 
There  is  not  much  romance  or  sentiment,  Indian  or  other,  about  a 
saw-miU. 

THE   SQUAWS'  LECTURE. 

There  was  another  curious  practice  among  the  Indians  on 
the  Sound  in  the  early  days.  It  was  the  lecture  or  sermon  that, 
at  stated  periods,  was  delivered  exclusively  to  the  Indian  women. 
An  important  member  of  the  tribe,  the  big  chief  or  the  medicine 
man,  would  select  a  promontory  or  island  remote  from  the  main- 
land, perhaps  in  the  vicinity  of  Port  Ludlow,  and  paddle  himseK 
there,  solitary  and  alone,  on  a  fine  day.  Soon  all  the  squaws 
would  be  seen  following  him,  paddling  vigorously  toward  the 
common  point.  No  bucks  were  among  them  j  they  all  remained 
on  the  mainland.  The  preacher,  instructor,  exhorter,  or  whatever 
he  was,  often  stood  in  the  water  up  to  his  knees  for  a  full  hour 
or  more  while  he  delivered  his  discourse ;  but  the  Indian  maidens 
aid  squaws  gathered  as  close  around  him  as  their  canoes  would 
permit,  so  as  to  catch  every  word  that  feU  from  his  lips.  Savona- 
rola was  never  more  in  earnest  than  this  dusky  preacher ;  his 
face  and  action  showed  he  realized  the  importance  of  his  k.  wor 
He  was  supposed  to  be  instructing  the  women  as  to  their  proper 
duties  in  their  savage  life ;  but  whatever  he  said,  they  were  eager 
to  hear  it  all.  There  was  no  noise  save  the  occasional  chafing 
of  one  canoe  against  another  as  they  moved  with  the  slight  swell 
of  the  water.  It  is  an  exciting  spectacle  to  see  the  dusky  women, 
when  the  service  was  over,  start  in  an  emulative  race  for  the 
mainland,  their  dark  sinewy  arms  plying  the  flashing  paddle  as 
the  light  canoe  cut  swiftly  the  placid  waters  of  the  Sound,  until 
with  laughing  banter  the  prows  touched  the  shore  and  they  re- 
joined the  bucks,  who  were  idly  awaiting  them. 

Too  grateful  for  the  blessing  lent 
Of  simple  tastes  and  mind  content." 

Geo.  E.  Barnes. 


Indians  of  Puget  Sound  and  Columbia  River,  in  1856. 

General  Wool  sent  Keyes'  company  over  to  Steilacoom  during 
the  following  week,  where  he  found  the  inhabitants  in  a  wild  state 


208  Indl\n  Mass\cke. 


of  alarm,  as  many  families  had  been  murdered  by  the  Indians.  On 
the  fourth  of  December,  Lieutenant  Slaughter  was  killed  by  the 
Klickitat  Indians,  headed  by  the  famous  chief  Kanaskat. 

DEATH   OF    KANASKAT. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25tli  of  February,  1856,  at  Lemon's 
prairie,  about  nine  miles  above  Tacoma,  on  the  Puyallup,  Ser- 
geant Newton  posted  a  private  named  Kehl  and  two  others  as  a 
picket  guard  of  Keyes'  company.  The  cooks  had  already  lighted 
the  fires,  and  the  watchful  soldier  saw  a  gleam  of  light  reflected 
from  a  rifle  barrel  about  a  hundred  yards  up  the  trail  beyond  the 
bend.  Then  he  saw  five  Indians  in  single  file  creeping  stealthily 
down  the  hill,  the  one  in  front  waving  his  hand  backward  to 
caution  his  followers.  Kehl  waited  till  the  leader  was  nearly 
abreast  of  him,  and  then  fired,  when  the  great  chief  Kanaskat 
fell,  shot  through  the  spine,  which  paralized  his  legs,  but  his 
voice  and  arms  were  not  affected.  ''  At  the  report  of  Kehl's  shot," 
writes  Greneral  Keyes,  "  I  ran  out  to  the  bridge,  where  I  heard 
Sergeant  Newton  crying  out,  '  We've  got  an  Indian.' "  It  took 
two  soldiers  to  hold  him  as  he  tried  to  draw  a  knife,  and  as 
they  dragged  him  across  the  bridge  he  continued  to  call  out  in  a 
language  I  did  not  understand.  Some  one  came  who  recognized 
the  rounded  Indian,  and  exclaimed,  ''  Kanaskat."  "  Nawitka  !  " 
said  he  with  tremendous  energy,  his  voice  rising  to  a  scream — 
'' Kanaskat  -  Tyee — mameloose  nika  mika  mameloose  Bostons." 
He  added,  "  My  heart  is  wicked  to  the  Whites,  and  always  will  be, 
so  you  had  better  kill  me."  Then  he  began  to  call  out  in  his 
native  tongue  which  none  of  us  could  understand.  He  appeared 
to  be  yelling  for  his  comrades,  and  two  shots  were  fired  from  the 
pickets  on  the  hill  when  Corporal  O'Shaughnessy,  who  was  stand- 
ing by,  placed  his  rifle  close  to  the  chief's  temple  and  blew  a  hole 
through  his  head,  scattering  the  brains  about.  Regarding  the 
carcass  of  the  dead  chief  as  that  of  an  unclean  animal  which  men 
hunt  for  the  love  of  havoc,  we  left  it  in  the  field  unburied,  and 
went  on  our  way  to  fight  his  people.  The  death  of  their  most 
warlike  chief  and  the  decisive  victory  we  achieved,  dismayed  the 
redskins,  and  thereafter  their  energies  were  exerted  to  avoid 
battles  with  the  regulars,  though  they  afterwards  fought  mth  the 
volunteers.  We  hunted  them  almost  night  and  day,  over  hill  and 
dale,  and  through  the  densest  thickets.  It  rained  more  than  half 
the  time,  and  the  influence  of  Mount  Rainier  and  its  vast  covering 


Mission  Life  among  the  Indians.  209 

of  eternal  snow  upon  the  temperature  made  the  nights  excessively 
cold.  Such  was  our  liability  to  surprise  that  we  were  obliged  to 
be  ready  to  fight  at  all  times.  The  hardships  of  that  campaign,  in 
which  the  pluck  of  Kautz,  Mendell,  Sukely,  and  others  was  tested, 
caused  us  later  to  regard  the  Wilderness  battles  as  recreation. 

In  the  Indian  war  of  1856  Lieutenant  Sheridan  served  under 
Col.  George  "Wright  of  the  Ninth  Infantry,  whom  he  describes  as 
an  able  officer.  In  this  campaign  he  captured  thirteen  Cascade 
Indians,  nine  of  whom  were  afterwards  hanged  for  their  participa- 
tion in  the  massacre  at  the  '  blockhouse.' 

In  illustration  of  the  insane  hatred  of  the  Indians  which  per- 
vaded the  people  of  Oregon  at  this  time,  Sheridan  mentions  the 
hanging  in  cold  blood  of  the  family  of  a  friendly  Chinook  chief, 
Spencer,  the  interpreter  of  Col.  Wright.  His  wife,  two  young 
boys,  three  girls  and  a  baby  were  hanged  by  some  white  bar- 
barians. The  babe  was  strangled  by  means  of  a  red  silk  hand- 
kerchief taken  from  the  neck  of  its  mother.  These  poor  creatures 
were  killed  in  the  spirit  of  aimless  revenge  by  citizens  who  knew 
that  their  victims  were  the  family  of  a  notoriously  friendly  and 
peaceable  chief,  who  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  '  Block  House 
Massacre.'  Spencers  family  had  walked  into  the  settlement  under 
the  protection  of  a  friendly  alliance,  and  Sheridan  declares  that 
this  wholesale  murder  of  innocent  and  helpless  victims  was  the 
most  dastardly  and  revolting  crime  he  ever  knew  to  be  committed 
by  Whites. 

Preserving  the  Indian  in  California. 

A  gentleman  explains  tlie  real  cause  of  the  recent  Indian  troubles  at  Mono 
Lake,  California,  1889. 

' '  A  few  days  since  a  San  Francisco  dispatch  stated  that  Indians  in 
Mono  county,  California,  had  killed  a  settler  and  three  Italians,  and  that 
trouble  "was  feared,  and  Governor  Waterman  had  been  asked  to  send 
troops  there. 

A  gentleman  wiio  has  resided  for  several  years  in  Mono  county,  in  the 
Bodie  section,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Mono  lake,  has  lately  arrived  here  and 
gives  an  account  of  the  origin  of  the  trouble  Avith  the  Indians,  which  goes 
to  substantiate  the  saying  of  some  of  the  old  settlers  of  this  state  that 
every  outbreak  of  the  Indians  has  been  brought  on  by  outrages  they  have 
suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  Whites. 

The  Mono  lake  region  is  a  desolate,  steidle  section,  much  resembling 
the  country  around  the  Dead  Sea.  The  waters  of  the  lake  are  thoroughly 
impregnated  with  borax,  salt  and  magnesia,  and  the  only  animal  life  found 
14 


210  Indian  Massacre. 


iu  it  is  a  sort  of  a  Avorm,  about  one-f  oiii*tli  of  au  iuch  iu  length,  resembling 
in  appearance  a  shrimp.  This  -svorm  is  of  an  oily  nature,  and  forms,  Avhen 
blown  on  the  shore  by  the  •\vinds,  by  comT)ining  with  the  alkaline  water  a 
soapy  mixture,  and  frequently  a  bank  of  this  soapsuds  several  feet  in  depth 
is  deposited  along  the  shore  of  the  lake. 

The  Piute  Indians,  who  live  in  the  country  around  Mono  lake  are  very 
fond  of  these  worms  or  shrimps,  which  they  call  "kitcha%de"  and  eat 
all  they  can  get  of  them  ;  in  fact  "kitchavie  "  and  pine  nuts  are  their  food 
staples. 

On  the  western  shore  of  Mono  lake  hved  a  settler  named  Louis  Sam- 
man.  He  had  resided  there  for  over  twenty  years,  raising  cattle  on  the 
stunted  pastiu-age  around  the  lake,  leading  a  lonely  life. 

Occasionally  he  would  kill  a  Piute  and  cast  the  body  into  the  alkaHne 
w-aters  of  the  lake,  Avhere  it  would  soon  petrify.  This  fact  was  well  known 
to  the  "Whites  residing  in  that  section,  and  the  gentleman  who  gives  this 
information  says  he  has  seen  four  of  these  bodies  calmly  reposing  at  the 
bottom  of  the  lake.  Samman's  avowed  intention  was  to  use  the  bodies,  as 
soon  as  they  became  sufficiently  hardened,  for  hitching  posts  and  door 
steps. 

The  Indians,  however,  were  ignorant  of  Samman's  eccentricity,  or  at 
least  had  only  heard  unconfirmed  stories  of  it.  A  few  days  before  the 
kilhng  above  mentioned,  a  party  of  Piutes  were  fishing  for  "  kitchaNde, " 
scooping  them  off  the  surface  of  the  water  with  willow  baskets.  In  the 
\dcinity  of  Samman's  j^lace  they  saw  the  bodies  of  their  murdered  brethren 
lying  on  the  gravelly  bottom. 

Then  the  stories  they  had  heard  were  confirmed.  They  became 
frenzied  for  revenge,  and  going  to  Samman's  cabin  took  him  out  (he  was 
alone)  and  shot  him  through  the  heart,  carried  the  body  into  the  cabin, 
laid  it  on  the  bed,  and  to  make  sure  that  he  was  dead,  fired  another  shot 
through  his  brain.  They  then,  went  several  miles  to  a  jjlace  where  four 
Italians  w^ere  and  killed  three  of  them,  one  escaping  to  Bodie  and  alarm- 
ing the  citizens,  telling  them  at  the  same  time  not  to  go  out  there  for  a  few 
days,  as  the  Indians  had  sworn  to  kill  any  white  man  that  came  oiit.  The 
Indians  Avere  very  much  excited,  and  eager  to  avenge  the  death  of  the 
petiified  Piutes.  A  request  Avas  made  on  Governor  Waterman  for  arms 
and  ammunition,  and  he  offered  to  send  troo^js,  but  the  offer  w^as  decHned. 
The  request  for  arms  and  ammunition  has  since  been  countermanded,  and 
things  have  quieted  down  considerably,  biit  still  the  \agilance  of  the  jieople 
has  not  relaxed.  An  effort  to  arrest  the  guilty  Indians  will  shortly  be 
made." 

How   ''Civilization''  was    introduced    to    the    Natives   of 
South  and  Central  America. 

The  second  volume  on  Central  America  just  issued,  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  of  H.  H.  Bancroft's  "  History  of  the  Pacific 


Natives  of  Central  and  South  America.         211 

States."  It  deals  mainly  with  a  period  of  which  the  simple  recital 
of  its  eveuts  reads  like  a  romance.  Mr.  Bancroft  has  no  sympathy 
with  the  Spanish  method  of  colonization  and  he  never  neglects  an 
opportunity  to  point  out  the  greed  and  villainy  which  lies  under 
the  thin  veneer  of  religious  zeal  in  the  Spanish- American  con- 
querors. He  also  delights  in  laying  bare  the  hypocrisy  of  the 
priestly  chroniclers,  who  never  fail  to  find  a  good  excuse  for  the 
methods  of  the  men  who  carried  the  cross  with  bloody  hands 
among  the  ill-starred  natives  of  Central  and  South  America.  He 
can  see  no  redeeming  qualities  in  Francisco  Pizarro,  Alvarado  and 
the  other  Spanish  conquerors,  save  their  superb  courage,  which 
never  faltered,  even  in  the  face  of  the  most  appalling  dangers. 
He  has  none  of  that  half -concealed  fondness  for  these  picturesque 
pirates  which  is  shown  by  many  writers.  He  gives  the  plain 
truth  about  them,  stripped  of  all  the  glamor  which  the  Church  has 
cast  over  their  cruelties.  The  single  chapter  devoted  to  Pizarro 
is  an  admirable  review  of  the  methods  of  one  of  the  bravest  and 
meanest  of  the  great  adventurers  of  the  world.  Of  infamous 
origin  and  brutal  instincts,  his  low  cunning  and  unsurpassed 
courage  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  lawless  crew  in  Panama  and 
made  him  surpass  in  Peru  the  crimes  with  which  Cortez  marked 
his  bloody  march  through  Mexico.  Nothing  in  history  is  more 
cruel  than  the  massacre  of  the  natives  and  the  captui*e  of  the  Inca, 
which  delivered  into  the  hands  of  these  freebooters  the  rich  em- 
pire of  Peru.  In  a  haK-hour  5000  defenseless  Peruvians  were 
butchered,  without  the  loss  of  a  single  Spaniard.  The  massacre 
was  precipitated  by  the  action  of  the  Inca,  who,  when  the  Priest 
Vicente  de  Valverde  was  urging  upon  him  the  beauties  of  the 
Catholic  faith,  flung  the  Bible  to  the  earth  and  trampled  upon  it. 
The  effect  was  similar  to  that  which  would  follow  a  curse  on  the 
religion  of  Mohammed  uttered  in  an  Arabian  mosque.  As  the 
author  says,  ''To  their  brutal  instinct  was  added  a  spiritual 
drunkenness  which  took  them  out  of  the  category  of  manhood  and 
made  them  human  fiends.  We  wonder  how  men  could  so  believej 
but  greater  stiU  is  our  wonder  that  men  so  believing  could  so  be- 
have." This  massacre  was  followed  by  the  usual  sequence — a 
forced  levy  on  the  kingdom  for  treasure  as  the  ransom  of  the 
captured  monarch;  the  accumulation  of  treasure,  which  is  estimat- 
ed as  worth  $20,000,000,  in  one  day,  and  finally  the  farcical  trial 
and  condemnation  of  the  captive  Inca  when  no  more  gold  and  sil- 
ver and  precious  stones  could  be  wrung  from  the  people.     The 


212  Indian  Massacre. 


trial  aud  tlie  death  scene  of  the  unhappy  Inca  are  told  in  these 
few  words,  made  more  impressive  by  their  brexdty : 

The  accusations  and  the  trial  would  both  be  laughable  were 
they  not  so  diabolical.  Pizarro  and  Almagro  acted  as  judges. 
Among  the  charges  were  attempted  insurrection,  usm-pation  and 
putting  to  death  the  lawful  sovereign,  idolatry,  waging  unjust 
warfare,  adultery,  polygamy  and  the  embezzlement  of  the  public 
revenues  since  the  Spaniards  had  taken  possession  of  the  country. 
What  more  cutting  irony  could  words  present  of  the  Christian 
and  civilized  idea  of  humanity  and  the  rights  of  man  then  enter- 
tained, than  the  catalogue  of  crimes  by  which  this  barbarian  must 
unjustly  die,  every  one  of  which  the  Spaniards  themselves  had 
committed  in  a  tenfold  degree  since  entering  these  dominions. 
The  opinion  of  the  soldiers  was  taken.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say 
that  the  prisoner  was  found  guilty.  He  was  condemned  to  be 
burned  alive  in  the  plaza. 

At  the  appointed  hour  the  royal  captive,  heavily  chained,  was 
led  forth.  It  was  nightfall,  and  the  torchlights  threw  a  dismal 
glare  upon  the  scene.  By  the  Inca's  side  walked  the  infamous 
Father  Vicente,  who  never  ceased  pouring  into  the  unwilling  ear 
of  his  victim  his  hateful  consolations.  Upon  the  funeral  pile, 
Atahualpa  was  informed  that  if  he  would  accept  baptism  he  might 
be  kindly  strangled  instead  of  burned.  "  A  cheap  escape  from 
much  suffering,"  thought  the  monarch,  and  permitted  it  to  be 
done.  The  name  of  Juan  de  Atahualpa  was  given  him.  The  iron 
coUar  of  the  garrote  was  then  tightened,  the  Christians  recited 
their  credos  over  the  new  convert,  and  the  spirit  of  the  Inca  hied 
away  to  the  sun.  Thus  one  more  jewel  was  added  to  the  immortal 
crown  of  Father  Vicente  de  Valverde  ! 

Soon  after  Pizarro  falls  in  a  bloody  brawl,  a  victim  to  the  lust 
for  gold  and  power  of  the  man  whom  he  had  made  rich  and 
powerful.  He  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age  when  he  met  his 
fate,  yet  so  great  was  his  vigor  and  courage  that  he  kiUed  five 
persons  and  wounded  others  before  he  was  subdued. 

In  the  succeeding  chapters  are  i-elated  the  exploits  of  the 
Spanish  conquerors  in  the  various  States  of  Central  America,  and 
on  the  Isthmus  of  Darien.  The  expeditions  of  Alvarado,  the  work 
of  the  ecclesiastics  in  Guatemala  and  Chiapas,  of  Herrera  in  Hon- 
duras, the  raids  of  Drake  and  Oxenhun  on  the  Isthmus,  the 
descents  of  the  buccaneers,  the  outrages  of  Morgan  at  Darien,  and 
the  exploits  of  other  cut-throats,  who  dignified  rapine  and  murder 


Natives  of  Central  and  South  America.         213 

by  the  title  of  exploration — these  furnish  the  materials  for  a  story 
as  thrilling  as  can  be  found  in  the  pages  of  romance.  The  history 
is  brought  down  to  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  shows, 
with  its  wealth  of  detail,  the  stagnation  which  has  always  marked 
the  colonies  of  Spain.  Those  of  the  natives  who  objected  to  the 
cruel  domination  of  the  Spaniards  were  killed.  In  Guatemala 
alone  Las  Casas  estimated  the  number  of  those  who  were  massa- 
cred or  driven  to  death  by  this  brutal  treatment  at  between  four 
and  five  millions.  The  aim  of  the  invaders  was  to  wring  the 
uttermost  farthing  from  the  natives.  Some  of  them  glossed  this 
mercenary  motive  under  religious  zeal,  but  this  did  not  alter  its 
character.  Even  a  man  of  high  character  like  Las  Casas,  whose 
soul  revolted  at  the  cruelties  perpetrated  in  the  name  of  religion, 
was  responsible  for  the  worst  curse  that  ever  befell  this  continent 
— African  slavery.  There  are  absolutely  no  redeeming  features  in 
the  history,  except  the  dauntless  courage  and  iron  endurance  of 
the  men  who  ravished  and  depopulated  a  fair  territory  in  the  holy 
name  of  the  Church. 

"  Twelve  years  after  the  discovery  of  Hispaniola,  as  Columbus 
himself  wi'ites,  six-sevenths  of  the  natives  were  dead  through  ill- 
treatment." 

' '  Born  by  the  law  that  compels  men  to  be, 

Born  to  conditions  they  could  not  foresee, 

Fashioned  and  shaj)ed  by  no  "will  of  their  own. 

And  helplessly  into  life's  history  thrown." 


>*!**^\  BRA/? 

'  OF   THK 

UNIVERS 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Home  building  narrative  resumed. — Improve  homestead  claim  as  I  had  the 
other. — The  market,  etc. — My  herds  of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  etc. — Great 
prosijerity. — Eailroads  built  from  tide  water  ;  freights,  etc. — Immigra- 
tion.— Further  enlargement  of  my  home  and  business  by  leasing,  fenc- 
ing and  breaking  a  quarter  section  of  school  land. — Copy  of  lease 
and  receijjt  for  second  years  payment  on  the  same. — The  law  and 
custom  as  to  it. — Confirmed  by  Congress. — Serve  as  county  road 
viewer  and  on  first  grand  jury  of  Columbia  County,  and  learn  some- 
thing.— Eoad  supervisor  of  a  twenty-mile  district. — A  re\dew,  and 
what  I  have  learned  about  farming,  etc. — The  best  economy  while 
"serpents  are  at  the  udder." 

FALL  of  1877. — Having  built  an  addition  to  our  house,  a 
cellar  and  a  stable ;  fenced  a  garden  and  potato  field,  and  a 
pasture  on  homestead  claim ;  plowed  most  of  the  arable  land 
on  the  same ;  sowed  it  in  fall  wheat,  and  fenced  it,  and  more, 
with  a  worm  fence  ;  having  a  120  acre  crop  under  way  or  assured ; 
with  plenty  of  grain,  hay  and  straw  for  feed  and  to  sell  at  good 
prices — barley  and  oats  being  worth  one  and  one  quarter  cents 
a  pound,  and  wheat  50  cts.  a  bushel  at  home  ;  eggs  20  cts.,  butter 
30  cts.  a  lb.,  and  hay  $8  a  ton  in  the  stack — not  that  the 
rivers  going  down  to  the  sea  were  made  free  to  the  people,  but 
on  account  of  the  large  immigration — and  having  good  herds  of 
cattle,  horses  and  hogs  ;  virtually  out  of  debt,  and  having  means 
to  employ  help,  I  was  ready  to  further  enlarge  my  home  and 
business. 

The  river  freights  were  still  virtually  prohibitory,  but  after 
a  time  railroads  were  built,  from  tide  water  reaching  into  the 
different  sections  of  this  upper  country ;  but  the  rivers  are  to 
this  day  (1889)  held  by  the  secret  pirates  of  a  Mormon  govern- 
ment from  being  an  opposition,  independent  and  free  line  to 
the  sea. 

I  here  give  about  the  average  freights  to  1889,  from  the 

Press. — 

' '  They  now  [1884]  charge  on  up  freight  from  twenty  to  forty  dollars 
per  ton,  according  as  the  goods  will  bear  it.  Anybody  can  see  that  is 
robbei-y  on  a  line  of  300  miles." 

"Freights  from  Portland  [tide  water]  to  Dayton  are  now  [1884] 
twenty-seven  to  forty  dollars  j^er  ton.  From  Dayton  to  this  jioiut  [seat  of 
-Garfield  county]  twenty  dollars  more  per  ton  is  added.     These  rates  bleed 

(214) 


Eanch  Life  in  the  West.  215 

our  people  to  death.  None  but  tlie  best  country  in  tlie  world  could 
stand  -'t. " 

1884. — "The  depression  in  the  price  of  wheat  still  continues,  and  we 
hear  of  some  sold  as  low  as  twenty-six  cents  Y>er  bushel.  We  see  the  Portland 
market  price  is  ^1.05,  just  think,  seventy-five  cents  per  bushel  for  trans- 
portation and  handling  from  our  county  (Garfield)  to  Portland,  river  route 
almost  all  the  way.  It  is  shameful."  "This  county  alone  has  about 
2,000,000  bushels  of  grain  to  exijort."  [And  yet  j^eople — who  o>n/Jd  to  be 
slaves,  and  iliey  are, — kept  voting  the  Mormons  into  oflfice,  and  here  is  the 
result.] 

1889. — "The  Legislature  cannot  weU  permit  this  bill  [to  open  the 
river]  to  die  of  neglect,  [but  as  usual  the  masons  killed  it.]  The  one  great 
grievance  of  all  Eastern  Oregon  [and  Washington]  is,  and  has  for  years 
been,  the  tax  laid  ujDon  its  resources  by  [masonic]  corporations,  that  have 
held  the  key  to  the  transiiortation  business  of  that  section  through  owning 
and  operating  the  only  portage  facilities  between  the  jDoints  named  in 
the  biU. 

True,  the  general  government  undertook  measures  for  a  rehef  of  this 
grievance  a  number  of  years  ago,  but  as  one  apjjropriation  after  another 
has  been  swallowed  up  [by  the  gang]  in  the  undertaking,  and  the  most 
formidable  part  of  the  vrork  is  yet  to  be  done,  the  peojile  have  naturally 
grown  tired  and  long  for  some  measure  that  furnishes  relief  for  themselves, 
as  well  as  for  their  remote  posterity. " 

But  they  still  voted  the  brethren  into  office,  who  thus  stran- 
gled the  country's  prosperity. 

Masomy  is  a  wide  spreading  tree ;  its  roots  are  like  that  of  a 
cancer;  while  among  its  boughs  numerous  traitorous  insects  are 
harbored  and  concealed,  and  under  its  protecting  foliage  the  dead- 
ly night  shade  of  conspiracy  is  reared  and  brought  to  maturity. 

And  the  people  would  unite  to  hang  outsiders  for  stealing  but 
a  few  head  of  stock ! 

To  enlarge  my  home  and  business,  I  accordingly  commenced 
to  break  up  the  arable  land  on  the  quarter  section  of  school 
land  adjoining  my  place  above,  having  improved  it  somewhat 
before  the  laud  was  survej'ed,  as  before  noted. 

As  it  was  destitute  of  water  and  the  ultimate  cost  when  it 
should  be  sold  so  uncertain,  all  land  hunters  rejected  it.  So  I 
was  in  no  hurry  about  leasing  it.  With  my  experience  in  home- 
building  I  could  see  that  if  some  one  would  take  the  land  and 
improve  it,  I  could  then  buy  him  out  for  less  cost  than  to  improve 
it  myself.  But  nobody  would  have  it.  So  the  following  Febru- 
ary, when  other  business   called  me  to  the  far  away  county  seat, 


216 


Kanch  Life  in  the  West. 


I  went  and  leased  it,  as  an  enlargement  to  my  home.  And  here 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  lease,  also  of  receipt  for  the  second 
year's  payment  on  the  same. 


Vlitiii  AS,  ilio  Ooverniiicnl  of  the  llniiw)  Sum  hts  nw-rrcd  cerMin  bnils  in  Wisliir>.ton  Terrilory  fm.Scbool  ind  cd 
ucmioii.l  puriwwej,  ind.  Whebeas.  bj  »n  «n  of  the  LegiilMitt  Aiseiubly  of  Wishmgton  Territory,  psssed  Novem- 
ber iJJ.  1*0,  the  County  Comtaissionere  of  the  seTeril  Counliea  in  aaid  Territory,  nrc  duly  luthoriied  and  empow- 
ered to  LEAS/!  ur  RtsT  Mid  lind«,  or  .ny  portion  thereof,  for  •  term  of  ye»rs  Dot  exceeding  »il.  or  until  euch  liudt 
ih»ll  be  wid  I 


ted  thi.  the   yZA.    d»y  of  .^-^>=-<^^-'^V2-*^ 

of  Columblft  County.  Washington  Territory,  party  ofjbe 
said  cotLDty  and  Territory  of  tlie  second  part. 


Sow.  IlKHEEnut,  Tins  LvDlo-Tlnr.,  .Made  and  e 

A-  0-   l»:^lKi'ejMthe    ll«rd   ol-  CountT/oninm^ 

6r«  par.,  snd  .M^<y^M(^^^k^Z^ 

W|TNK3f>F'TH,  Thftt  the  said  party  of  the  6rit  part,  purvaniu  to  said  IftW,  Tiu  frvited,  dciDJacd,  aiid  to  ftrm  let.  Kod 
)fj  ih^  prcscjits  does  pripr,  demise,  and  w>  fiiim  let,  with  the  aaid  party  of  the  secood  p»n,  all  the  ccrtaio  lot  piece 
.or   parcel    <jf  /and.  sttuatc,  lyini;  and  bcio?  in  iho  County  of  Columbia,  Territory  of  Washiopton,  Jescribcd  as  follows. 


•„  «.wu,»<vv  rfilli  the  surveys  nnd  p1.'»(sj>f  the  United  Stjtcs  Oovofpmcnt.  wilh  the  nppurt^-n«iice»^fur  the  term  of.i^ 
jeat^  fn.oi  the  ...^At.  day  of  ..^?L«-^«^<-^<^.^?-^rA,'B",  iSJ'^r  unlifsaid  rrsct  ^  land  shiill  be  sold  by 
ttunpeleiit  authority. 'jt  lb?  »nna«l  rent  or  sum  of  ,..  K^4r,£,*Cr<f ..  dollir.,  pity.iMc  in  Jnvfol  uione*  of  Ibe  Cnile<f 
ftioCTo  the  Trcjsorw  of  soid  county,  aimually  iir  advance,  on  the  ...ffjl^ayof  .W'X-v'T^.'^.vh  anil  eierj  ySr. 

-    -/  a  ... 

.rrt>*idcd  alw.-iys.  nevertheless,  thai  if  the  rent  above  reserved  or  any  portion  ihercof,  ^hall  be  In  arrcirs  of  ilnp&id  on 
any  day  of  payment  when  the  came  ought  to  be  paid  as  aforesaid ;  or  if  default  be  made  in  any  ..I  the  covcimili.  herein 
^Cwntaincd,  on  the  parr  or  behalf  of  sjid  party  jf  the  second  part,  his  executors,  adntiuistralora  or  a.^al;.'^B.  M  be  paid,  kepi 
land  performed,  then  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  said  Ctmnty  L'ominiAshitlcra  of  said  County  to  rc-eiiieT  the  aaid  premises, 
'.tri'tliMut  any  legal  process  or  warrant  other  than  'tf  herein  contained,  and  to  remove,  or  cause  to  be  rviiioved,  all  penons 
therrfroui.  / 


nts  pul 


ATnd  thr>  jaid  party  of  the  second  part.'docS'hcre.by  covenant,  promise  aud  spree  In  pay  the  said  rent  at  the  time  and 
tn^tic  manner  lierciiibefore  specified,  and  not  f>  let  or  underlet  the  whole  or  aoy  pjrt  of  said  premises  without  the  writ- 
.ICO  cinscnl  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  and  shall  and  will,  at  his  own  proper  cost  and  charges,  pay  all  such 
tajca  and  assessments  whatever,  as  shall  or  may.  during  tho  said  term  hereby  jjrsiiled,  be  charged,  assc<,sed  or  imposed 
«pon  the  said  premises  i  rnd  not  to  cut  or  destroy  any  limber  growing  upon  said  laiidM.  during  said  term.  rAc  Jomc  htmi) 
hrrrl^  rrt.r-vcJ  It)  llie  m.Vf  pari,,  of  iKe  fril  pan  ;  and  agreeing  also  that  all  the  fencing  and  other  imprnvtmi 
»0«n  said  land,  during  said  term,  shall  attach  to  and  become  a  part  of  the  realty  at  ihc  expiration  of  sjid  term. 

And  that  on  the  last  day  of  the  said  term,  or  other  sooner  dctenuinslion  of  tho  Male  hcieby  graotod.  the  said  party 
•f  the  second  part,  his  executors,  administrators  and  tssiens.  shall  and  will  peaceably  and  quietly,  leave,  surrender  and 
Jicij  up  unto  the  aaid  party  of  the  6rst  part,  all  and  .ingular  tlic  said  promisea  together  with  tho  appurtenances. 

And  Ihc  said  party  of  the  first  part  does  hereby  covenant,  promise  and  agree,  that  the  ..id  party  of  the  «;rond  pan, 
faying  the  said  rent,  and  performing  the  coTonanls  aforesaid,  shsll  and  may  peacefbly  and  quicly  have,  hold  and  enjoy 
Iht  Mid  premises  for  the  term  aforesaid.  , 

In  WiT.tESS  WlltRlOf,  the  ssid  parties  have  hereunto  Kt  their  hands  and  seals;  the  Jay  and  year  first  above  written 


SignecT  scaled  and  delivered  In  presei,^,; 


f/?rriffc-t-* 


School  Land  Lease. 

(Beducetl  to  one  half  of  the  oiiginal  s'.ze.) 


2]  8  Ranch  Life  in  the  "West. 

"  The  organic  act  of  Congress  declares  that  'all  laws  passed  by  the  legis- 
lative Assembly  and  Governor  of '  Washington  territory,  shall  be  submitted 
to  Congress,  and,  if  disapi^roved,  shall  be  null  and  of  no  effect." 

"The  act  of  18G7,  maldng  the  bi-annual  sessions  of  the  legislature  be- 
gin two  mouths  earher  in  the  odd  year,  waa  not  disapproved  by  Congress, 
but  by  vii-tue  of  the  ride,  ' silence  gives  assent,'  was  approved." 

And  the  legislature  lienceforth  acted  accordingly — as 
though  the  act  had  been  formally  approved.  As  did  the  courts 
and  people  as  to  the  other  acts  of  the  legislature.  It  ivas  and 
is  the  universal  custom/or  laics,  to  be  in/orce  until  congress,  or  the 
courts,  or  the  legislature  abrogates  them.  And  so  it  was  with  this 
school-land  act.  It  was  forthwith  made  available  and  largely 
availed  of.  And  on  its  being  questioned,  as  all  laws  are  for  a 
price,  the  U.  S.  Attorney  General  wrote  as  follows,  to  the  terri- 
torial Delegate  in  Congress. 

j  Depaktment  of  Justice. 
I  Washington,  June  7th,  1880. 

Sm: 

It  seems  to  me  ujjon  a  careful  reading  of  the  law  referred  to,  that  the 
commissioners  themselves,  as  representing  the  county,  are  invested  with 
power  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  county  in  sections  16  and  36,  which 
were  resei-ved  by  Congress  for  the  benefit  of  the  common  schools  therein. 

I  infer  this  from  the  authority  given  them,  to  locate  other  lands  in  case 
sections  16  and  36  are  occupied  by  actual  settlers  prior  to  the  sul•^^ey  there- 
of. Under  this  authority  to  locate,  they  may  take  possession,  and  so  of 
sections  16  and  36,  if  not  occupied  by  actual  settlers  prior  to  the  sui-vey 
thereof. 

The  statute  gives  to  the  temtory  the  title  and  the  right  of  possession, 
and  the  proper  rejjresentatives  of  the  territory  who  for  this  jjurijose  are, 
I  laresume,  the  county  commissioners,  may  institute  proceedings  to  defend 
that  possession,  or  to  recover  it  as  against  trespassers. 
Very  resjjectf ully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Chas.  Devens, 

Attorney  General." 

From  the  Press. — "WAiiLA  WaliiA,  Oct.  14th,  1882.  For  the  infoima- 
tion  of  "Inquu'er"  it  is  stated  that  many  years  ago  the  legislature  of  Wash- 
ington territory,  by  solemn  enactment,  authoiized  the  commissioners  of  the 
different  counties  to  lease  school  lands,  the  rents  to  be  added  to  the  school 
fund  of  the  county  wherein  the  lands  were  situated.  Does  "Inquirer" 
wish  to  decrease  the  school  fund  by  abohshing  the  practice  ?  If  so  he 
must  either  appeal  to  the  legislature  to  rei^eal  the  law,  or  induce  a  court  of 
competent  jurisdiction  to  declare  the  act  as  unauthorized." 


Ranch  Life  in  the  West.  219 

1885. — "The  commissioners  of  King  county,  ["Western  Washington] 
are  doing  considerable  business  in  the  way  of  leasing  school  lands.  These 
lands  are  leased  in  tracts  of  IGO  acres,  or  less,  at  ten  dollars  a  year  for  each 
tract,  the  leasea  running  for  six  years.  [Lurking  brethren  could,  and  did 
lease,  irJ/ole  sections  and  held  them].  It  is  impossible  to  sell  these  lands 
before  the  Territory  becomes  a  State.  They,  however,  are  in  great  request, 
and  the  leases  are  eagerly  sought,  it  being  understood  that  when  the  lands 
are  sold,  the  occupants  shall  have  the  first  right  to  purchase  at  the  ap- 
praised price.  The  county  is  entitled  to  75,000  acres,  and  if  all  leased 
even  at  the  low  price  of  ten  doUars  a  year,  a  revenue  would  thereby  be 
secured  of  ^5000  or  more.  With  no  effort  made  in  the  jsast,  §450  a  year  is 
now  obtained  in  this  way.  The  school  lands  of  King  county  will  be  worth 
millions  of  dollars  in  time  to  come." 

In  1888  there  were  5000  sucli  leases  as  mine  held,  and 
Congress  formally  approved  the  same  as  follows : — 

''Washington  Territory  School  Lands. 

The  following  is  an  act  of  Congress  "  for  the  relief  of  certain  settlers 
upon  the  school  lands  of  Washington  territory: " 

Whekeas,  Sections  16  and  36  of  each  townshii?  of  land  in  Washington 
territory  was  reserved  unto  that  temtory  for  school  pur^joses  ;  and 

Wheeeas,  On  December  2,  1869,  the  legislative  assembly  of  that 
territory,  by  an  act  duly  passed,  authorized  the  county  commissioners  of 
the  several  counties  in  that  territory  to  lease  said  lands  for  a  term  of  years 
not  exceeding  six  years,  the  money  received  therefore  being  placed  in  the 
school  fund ;  and 

Whekeas,  The  lands  so  leased  are  greatly  enhanced  in  value  by  the 
cultivation  thereof,  and  the  lessees  thereof  have  made  valuable  improve- 
ments thereon  and  incurred  large  expense  in  reducing  such  land  to  a  state 
of  cultivation,  and  will  incur  much  loss  if  they  are  caused  to  abandon  their 
said  improvements  and  cultivations  ;  and 

Whereas,  The  vaKdity  of  the  said  leases  is  questioned  ;  therefore, 

Be  it  enacted,  etc. ,  That  the  action  of  the  county  commissioners  of  the 
several  counties  of  Washington  territoiy  under  the  authority  siijjposed  to 
reside  in  the  act  of  the  legislative  assembly  of  said  territory  of  December 
2,  1869,  entitled,  ' '  an  act  to  provide  for  the  leasing  of  school  land  in  Wash- 
ington territory , "  when  had  in  conformity  to  said  act,  be,  and  the  same 
hereby  is,  confirmed,  and  that  said  act  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  vali- 
dated and  confirmed. 

Approved,  August  6,  1888." 

I  spent  part  of  the  following  months  of  February  and 
IVTarch,  1878,  in  viewing  out  and  locating  county  roads  in  the 
Asotin  country,  being  appointed  with  two  others  by  the  board 
of  county  commissioners  to  act  in  that  capacity. 


220  Ranch  Life  in  the  West. 

Then  I  hired  two  men  to  make  rails  at  twenty  dollars  per 
thousand,  one  to  help  farm  and  break  prairie  on  the  school 
laud  claim  at  thirty  dollars  a  month,  and  one  to  attend  to  the 
cows,  hogs,  chickens,  and  assist  about  the  house. 

Was  road  supervisor  of  this  district,  then  over  20x20  miles 
in  extent.  That  spring  we  got  the  through  road  to  Dayton 
and  Lewiston  opened  all  the  way  for  the  first. 

In  June  I  served  on  the  grand  jury  of  the  first  court 
session  ever  held  in  Columbia  county;  wherein  I  experienced 
that  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  indict  an  outsider,  while  worse 
criminals  (being  in  a  charitable  order)  are  secure  against  out- 
raged justice. 

Then,  until  harvest,  I  was  engaged  mostly  in  hauling  over 
10,000  rails  from  the  mountains  and  fencing  the  school  land  I 
had  leased  and  partly  broke  out,  Some  of  the  rails  I  bought 
at  forty  dollars  per  thousand,  delivered  on  the  ground. 

"Book"  or  Greeley  farming  is  good  in  its  place,  but  would 
not  pay  here ;  and  he  who  was  educated  in  such  a  school  and 
was  bigoted,  or  could  not  bend  to  adverse  circumstances  or  ex- 
ceptions to  accepted  general  rules  could  do  a  thing  in  but  one 
way,  would  break  up  very  quick  or  fail  in  making  anything  to 
break.  There  are  circumstances  in  which  it  is  the  best  econ- 
omy for  the  settler  to  raise  wheat,  horses,  hogs  and  calves 
together  in  the  same  field  (though  frequently  done  when  not 
the  best  economy)  and  to  raise  potatoes  by  dropping  the  seed 
as  he  plows  the  ground,  run  over  it  with  a  harrow,  let  them  go 
until  fall,  and  then  plow  them  up  or  turn  the  hogs  in  to  harvest 
them.  Sometimes  good  cultivation  of  a  crop  pays  best,  and 
then  again  no  culture  at  all  is  the  best  economy.  I  can  raise 
more  truck  with  a  team  and  plow  than  alone  with  a  hoe. 
Horse  flesh  is  cheaper  than  that  of  a  man — if  he  be  a  man — 
and  is  more  pleasant  to  wear  off.  I  can  ride  over  more  ground 
than  I  can  walk  over.  A  farmer  and  his  family  should  not  be 
harder  worked  or  fed  than  his  cattle,  and  tliey  should  have 
leisure  and  plenty  that  is  good,  too.  I  have  read  expert  testi- 
mony in  agricultural  papers  and  books  until — like  reading  law 
books — I  did  not  know  anything  for  certain.  I  have  experi- 
mented and  closely  observed  in  every  branch  and  phase  of 
work  I  ever  pursued.     Have  plowed  bodies  of  land  up  to  the 


Banch  Life  in  the  West.  221 

beam,  and  adjoining  it  have  skinned  the  ground  and  skipped  a 
foot  at  every  furrow  and  turn  for  acres  together.  Have  rolled 
grain  before  it  was  up,  and  when  it  was  six  to  eight  inches 
high  with  a  heavy  four-horse  roller  (which  I  had  read  would 
even  kill  Canadian  thistles).  Have  rolled  it  in  the  dust ;  in 
the  mire ;  and  have  not  rolled  it  at  all.  Have  sown  it  on  foot, 
on  horseback  and  out  of  a  wagon  ;  in  the  spring,  summer,  fall 
and  winter  time ;  and  have  just  let  it  volunteer  from  the  last 
crop.  Have  harvested  it  with  cradle  and  rake;  with  reaper; 
header,  and  have  turned  stock  in  to  do  it.  Have  threshed  with 
machine ;  tramped  it  out  with  a  bunch  of  horses,  and  have 
pounded  it  out  with  a  club.  And  in  potatoes  and  other  truck  have 
experimented  as  widely,  and  in  their  different  varieties,  and  in 
each  and  every  case  have  been  both  ridiculed  and  flattered  by 
others.  Have  broke  horses  under  the  saddle;  to  the  wagon, 
plow,  harrow,  and  have  more  frequently  just  went  to  work  with 
them  without  any  breaking ;  and  have  fed  them  on  patent 
medicine,  wheat, — until  I  foundered  four  at  a  time,  until  they 
learned  better  and  could  safely  eat  it  from  a  pile  on  the  ground, 
and  have  let  them  get  their  living  on  the  range. 

Have  killed  hogs,  planted  gardens,  and  layed  worm  fence 
in  all  stages  of  the  moon — in  sunshine,  moonshine,  and  in  the 
shade.  Have  put  salt  and  pepper  in  cows'  tails  to  cure  the 
"  hollow  horn,"  and  have  cut  off  pigs  tails  to  make  them 
weigh  411  pounds  with  but  little  feed.  Have  worked  sixteen 
hours  a  day,  and  have  followed  the  sensible  eight  hour  system,  of 
eight  hours  for  ivork,  eight  hours  for  sleep,  and  eight  hours  for  re- 
creation and  study. 

And  I  have  learned  that  the  one  of  any  of  these  ways  is 
the  best  for  the  farmer,  that  is  the  easiest.  Just  so  long  as  it 
is  fixed  that  he  is  to  get  but  a  hard  living  anyway,  and  the 
profits  of  his  toil  goes  to  enrich  mystic  gangs  of  "serpents  at  the 
udder." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Land  jumping. — First  serious  case  in  tlie  "France  settlement." — Our 
graveyard  started. — The  "poor  man's  friend." — Street  fight  "with  a 
jumper. — "Hun-ah  for  Whetstone  Hollow  !" — Public  sentiment  as  to 
such  cases. — "When  the  courts  and  press  stand  in  with  the  peoj^le,  and 
when  against  them. — Land  sharks. — How  petty  thieves  are  shot  down 
with  impunity. — Home  wreckers. — How  my  prosi^erity  made  me  an 
object  of  envy  and  ravage. — A  murderous  conspiracy  by  gentlemen 
Avith  great  influence  at  coui-t  to  jump  my  pre-emj^tion  and  school-land 
portions  of  my  Avell  earned,  improved  and  stocked  home. — The  lying 
jjretexts  that  were  invented  and  used  as  a  blind. — Jump  all  the  water 
on  my  place. — "If  you  want  any  water,  dig  for  it!" — Wanted  to  get 
me  into  the  gang's  court. — How  I  repossessed  my  own. — "Will  fix  you 
by  helping  H —  jump  your  school  land  ! " — How  I  had  befriended 
them. — "Damned  be  he  who  first  cries  hold:  enough!" — Tries  to 
drive  me  off  with  a  gun. — And  we  get  better  acquainted  ;  get  friendly, 
and  he  agrees  to  quit. — How  I  was  performing  my  homage  against  a 
lurking  foe. — His  object. — Is  set  to  resume  the  conflict. — "An  outrage 
for  one  man  to  own  all  the  land  and  the  water,  too! " — "Will  settle  it -ftith 
an  ounce  of  lead  !  "  etc. — Boasts  of  his  backing  and  influence. — "We 
will  make  it  hot  as  hell  for  you  now." — "I  have  taken  your  school 
land,  E — ,  jowr  pre-emption,  and  by  G-d  !  Ave  Avill  soon  have  a  man 
on  your  homestead  ! " — A  man  loans  me  his  jjistol  for  defense,  and  then 
eggs  on  the  jumper. — The  lying  gang. — "But  truth  shall  conquer  at 
the  last." — Jumper's  many  wicked  threats.— Try  to  have  him  bound 
over  to  keej)  the  peace. — My  instructions  from  the  jjeace  officer. — "Be 
l>rei3ared  to  defend  yourself  and  sow  the  ground." — He  loans  me  seed 
for  the  purpose. — "There  comes  [Jumper]  now  Avith  a  gan!" — "Let 
us  go  out  and  see  what  he  is  going  to  do  Avith  it !" — "I  don't  care  a 
damn  what  he  does  Avith  it ! " — How  he  followed  me  around  the  field 
Avith  a  cocked  carbine  in  both  hands. — Quits  and  has  a  secret  confer- 
ence.— "I  ask  you  as  a  friend  and  neighbor  to  quit  soAving  Avheat  and 
leave  the  field,  for  there  is  going  to  be  troiible  ! " — "Look  out  for  him 
noAV  !" — Belches  out  at  the  end  of  a  stream  of  profanity,  "turn  back ! 
leave  the  field  !  and  don't  come  back  nary  time  ! " — "I  Avill  fix  you  ! " 
a-ack;  h<mg  !  ''I  will  kill  you!''  crack,  bang! — I  return  the  fire  in  quick 
succession,  thus  saving  my  life. — Positive,  certain,  incontrovertible 
proof  &&  to  the  same. — Hoav  he  missed  me  by  a  scratch  and  killed  the 
horse. — "There,  France  is  shot!" — The  lying  and  perjured  gang.— 
"  Where  logic  is  inverted  and  wrong  is  called  right." — Am  charged 
with  murder  ! — The  Avould-be  assassin,  home  ravager  and  ravisher  is 
shielded,  venerated  and  revenged  by  his  gang. — "If  by  this  means  we 
can  further  our  cause,  the  private  assassin  deserves  our  applause." — 

(222) 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  BAbTiLE.  223 

Am  thrown  into  jail  ■without  a  hearing. — Held  in  jail  nearly  ten  months 
begging  and  demanding  a  trial.  — Can  never  get  either  a  trial  or  hear- 
ing.— "Virtue  distressed  "  could  get  no  protection  here. — Am  betrayed, 
sold  and  given  away. — "His  glories  lost,  his  cause  betrayed!" — 
Shanghaied  to  the  gang's  bastile  in  double  irons. — "Oh!  'twas  too 
much,  ioo  dreadful  to  endure  ! " — "  He  jests  at  scars  that  never  felt  a 
wound  !  " — "Is  this  then"  thought  the  youth,  "is  this  the  way  to  free 
man's  spirit  from  the  deadening  sway  of  worldly  sloth  ;  to  teach  him 
while  he  lives,  to  know  no  bUss  but  that  which  virtue  gives?" — 
Examjjles  of  other  cases,  and  what  the  law  is. — My  case  as  established 
and  the  law,  etc.,  as  to  the  same. 

"But  pleasures  are  like  poppies  sj^read. 

You  seize  the  flower,  its  bloom  is  shed; 

Or  hke  the  snow  fall  in  the  river, 

A  moment  white — then  melts  forever; 

Or  like  the  borealis  race. 

That  flit  ere  you  can  point  their  j^lace; 

Or  like  the  rainbow's  lovely  form 

Evanishing  amid  the  storm." — Burns. 

1  HE  first  serious  land  jumping  in  the  "France  Settlement" 
was  that  of  a  man  who  jumped  a  claim  belonging  to  Miss  B — , 
1878.  In  moving  on  to  it,  the  jumper  left  a  wagon  tire,  leaning 
against  some  other  traps,  on  an  elevation  above  the  house  ;  the 
tire  got  started,  and  bounding  into  the  door  crushed  a  hole  into 
the  head  of  a  two  or  three  year  old  child,  playing  by  its 
mother's  side.  Yet,  it  lingered  until  a  doctor  arrived  and  sewed 
up  the  scalp,  the  brain  oozing  out  meanwhile.  Oh,  what  a 
piteous  sight ! 

The  doctor  prided  himself  on  being  above  all  other  doctors 
"  the  poor  man's  friend,"  and  therefore  charged  only  $150  for 
his  trip  of  30  miles  and  "  surgical  operation." 

Thus  was  our  graveyard  started. 

Then  the  jumper  was  driven  from  the  place,  though  he 
was  technically  right. 

About  this  time  there  was  also  an  attempt  at  claim  jump- 
ing near  Dayton.  A  man  had  filed  on  a  claim  and  then,  having 
sold  it  before  proving  up,  erroneously  thought  he  could  there- 
fore legally  file  the  same  right  on  another  claim.  After  he  had 
lived  on  and  improved  this  other  claim,  a  man  doing  business 
in  town  filed  a  contest  at  the  land  office  and  was  about  to  win 


224  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

the  place  by  law.  So  many  of  the  neighbors  turned  out, 
destroyed  with  fire  the  lumber  he  had  put  on  the  place  for  a 
house,  and,  armed  with  shot  guns  and  pistols,  went  hunting  for 
him  in  a  body  to  the  county  seat,  where  they  challenged  the 
jumper  out  of  his  house  of  business  and  shot  him  down  in  the 
street,  and,  after  he  was  down,  amid  shouts  of  "  hurrah  for 
Whetstone  Hollow !  " 

There  was  not  even  an  arrest  made,  nor  any  indictment 
found,  as  the  jumper  was  not  a  member  of  the  gang. 

One  of  the  shooters  rested  his  pistol  on  his  arm  and,  as  he 
smoked  his  pipe,  blazed  away  at  the  lone  man.  This  shooter 
was  then  elected  a  county  commissioner. 

These  sample  cases  prove  that  the  sentiment  and  judge- 
ment of  the  people  were  dead  against  land  jumpers,  even  when 
they  were  technically  right.  And  that  the  courts  stood  in 
against  them,  when  they  did  not  belong  to  the  gang.  Indeed, 
the  homebuilders  were  having  such  a  hard  time  of  it,  that  one 
could  not  be  convicted  of  any  crime  for  killing  a  man  who  was 
trying  to  rob  him  of  his  home  or  any  part  of  it — even  if  the 
jumper  was  technically  right — unless  the  homebuilder  was  be- 
trayed, sold,  or  given  away  by  his  lawyers,  and  the  jury  packed 
against  him.  Were  it  otherwise,  the  laws  and  courts  would  be 
worked  so,  as  to  rob  every  homebuilder  of  his  home ;  for  there 
is  always  a  technicality,  a  clerical  "  error,"  or  something  hidden 
to  be  dug  up,  and  sustained  by  the  court,  when  the  mystic  sign  is 
given. 

Gondensedfrom  the  Press. — "The  land  sharks  are  jubilant  over  [a  ^dctory] 
as  it  is  the  commencement  of  the  harvest  they  expect  to  gather.  But  the 
settlers  on  the  lands  are  organized,  and  any  of  their  creatiu-es  Avhom  they 
vdll  incite  to  locate,  will  be  met  ■with  a  long  rope  and  a  short  shift.  The 
Statesman  will  side  with  the  farmers  against  both  the  raih-oad  and  the  land 
jum.pers." 

"That  the  ling  of  land  sharks  exists  in  this  city  [Walla  Walla]  and 
have  no  earthly  way  of  making  a  H\ing,  esceist  by  blackmailing  settlers  on 
the  iJiabhc  lands,  by  reason  of  their  knowledge  of  the  land  laws  and  their 
access  to  the  records  of  the  land  office,  is  an  undoubted  fact.  By  black- 
maihng  the  settlei's  and  bulldozing  the  land  officers  they  keep  eveiybody 
in  a  state  of  ten-or.  We  know,  for  a  fact,  of  contests  being  inaugurated 
for  no  other  purpose  than  forcing  the  original  locator  to  buy  the  gang  off"." 

"Mr.  Arthurs  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  is  a  true  and  consistent 
democrat,  and  it  would  not  be  safe  for  any  man  to  attempt  to  locate  on  his 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  225 

domain,  even  if  it  be  forfeited,  for  he  is  one  of  the  many  who  have  sworn, 
that  no  jumper  will  ever  attempt  a  similar  game  a  second  time." 

' '  Indeed,  in  all  new  and  sparsely  settled  sections  of  this  great  repub- 
lic the  law  is  interpreted  to  suit  the  sentiment  of  the  community.  If  a  man 
jumps  a  i^iece  of  land,  held  rightfully  by  a  neighbor,  he  knows  that  he  is 
looking  directly  into  the  muzzle  of  a  loaded  Winchester,  which  is  liable  to 
go  off  any  moment.  It  all  dejiends  on  the  nerve  of  the  injured  party.  If 
the  gun  does  go  off,  the  coroner  and  his  neighbors  gather  together,  talk  the 
matter  over,  and  render  a  verdict  of  justifiable  homicide.  This  is  why  M — , 
who  shot  and  killed  young  L —  last  week,  is  a  free  and  much  respected 
citizen  to-day. " 

It  is  popular  also,  to  shoot  down  liarmless  petty  thieves, 
even  in  town,  when  they  don't  belong  to  the  gang. 

"  0 — ,  in  whose  back  P^  poured  a  dose  of  shot,  is  still  ahve  in  the 
city  jail.  Some  of  the  shot  lodged  in  the  lungs,  and  the  spine  must  cer- 
tainly be  injured.  There  is  little,  if  any,  sympathy  expressed  for  the 
wretch,  and  his  death  would  not  increase  it.  It  is  well  known  that  in 
nearly  every  house  in  the  city  fire-arms  are  kejjt  expressly  for  burglars, 
and  it  is  only  because  peoj^le  do  not  wake  up  quick  enough,  that  more 
house  breakers  are  not  shot." 

Afterwards. — "C — ,  the  biirgiar,  who  was  so  prettily  pepiaered  by  P-, 
a  few  weeks  since,  was  yesterday  sentenced  to  nine  years  in  the  peniten- 
tiary." 

A  homebuilder  knows  at  the  outset  enough  to  calculate  on 
opposition  from  home-wreckers ;  he  also  knows  that  the  chief 
fundamental  principle  and  object  of  good  government  is  not  to 
rob  and  murder  him,  but  to  encourage,  uphold,  protect,  defend 
and  venerate  the  true  homebuilder ;  and  that  this  is  vouch- 
safed and  vowed  by  all  civilized  governments  on  the  earth. 
And  he  who  violates  this  solemn  vow  is  a  traitor  and  a  thief. 

Here  is  a  sentiment,  that  is  proudly  proclaimed. 

"  The  poorest  man  may  in  his  own  cottage  home  bid  defiance 
to  all  the  force  of  the  crown.  It  may  be  frail,  its  roof  may  shake, 
the  wind  may  blow  through  it,  the  storms  may  enter,  the  rain 
may  enter, — but  the  King  of  England  cannot  enter  !  All  his  forces 
dare  not  cross  the  threshold ! ! " 

In  the  spring  of  1878,  Mr.  E  —  and  other  charitable  breth- 
ren located  a  steam  saw-mill  a  mile  from  my  place,  knowing 
there  would  be  no  accessible  water  for  their  use  during  the 
most  of  the  year,  except  it  be  at  my  place.  Digging  for  water 
had  proved  a  failure  thereabouts,  and  the  settlers  were  watering 
15 


226  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

their  stock  at  and  hauling  water  from  my  place  for  domestic 
use.  This  demand  with  my  various  herds  of  stock  and  others 
that  were  transient,  was  about  equal  to  the  supply  of  my 
springs.  Mr.  E —  was  fully  informed  as  to  this  matter  before 
he  located  the  mill,  but  turned  a  deaf  ear ;  evidently  having 
conspired  at  the  outset  to  intrigue,  tramp  or  shoot  me  down, 
and  jump  my  place. 

The  fact  that  I  had  earned  this  part  of  my  home  by  hard 
and  persistent  toil,  had  paid  for  it,  and  had  an  undisputed  U. 
S.  Patent  for  the  same,  was  spurned  with  charitable  (?)  con- 
tempt, as  having  such  influence  at  court  as  would  shield  them 
in  murdering  justice,  law,  and  the  most  sacred  rights  and 
cherished  feelings  of  man. 

Mr.  E —  never  even  asked  me  to  grant  him  or  them  any 
privilege,  whatsoever. 

However,  when  the  water  at  the  mill  had  failed,  a  neighbor 
said  to  me  that  he  could  make  some  money  in  supplying  the 
mill  with  water,  if  I  would  permit  him  to  haul  it  from  my  place; 
that  he  would  tap  the  stream  some  distance  below  the  main 
head  springs  and  the  fence  that  enclosed  them,  run  it  into  a 
box,  placed  over  the  stream,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  its  other 
uses,  and  be  subject  to  my  desires  as  to  the  same.  I  agreed  to 
this,  he  did  as  he  agreed,  and  we  never  disagreed. 

In  May,  also  in  1878, 1  suffered  a  man  to  put  up  a  cabin  on 
a  corner  of  the  school-land-tract  that  I  had  leased,  as  before 
shown,  under  the  pretext  and  promise  of  stopping  but  a  short 
time,  when  the  water  there  would  fail,  and  he  would  locate  and 
move  his  cabin  on  to  some  vacant  land.  He  repeatedly  declar- 
ed that  I  had  befriended  him,  when  in  need,  as  none  other 
would  do,  and  that  ''he  surely  would  never  make  me  any 
trouble,"  etc. 

Afterwards,  however,  he  said  that  he  was  advised  by  a 
("charitable")  lawyer,  that  the  law  by  which  such  lands  were 
leased,  was  invalid,  so  that  he  could  ignore  it,  and  was  en- 
couraged by  other  brethren  to  stick  to  this  land. 

But  he  could  never  show  wherein  this,  if  true,  would  give 
him  any  legal  or  moral  right  to  the  same.  For,  although  it  was 
surveyed  land,  he  could  not  file  on  it  at  the  land  office,  which 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  227 

office  acquiesced  in  the  leasing  of  it.  He  could  not  even  file  a 
contest  there. 

Mr.  Jumper  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  saw-mill. 

He  was  an  old  hand  at  the  jumping  business,  and  had  been 
run  out  of  two  or  more  places  for  trying  to  kill  men  for  their 
claims,  so  it  was  said,  and  was  regarded  as  a  hard  and  desperate 
citizen.  He  threatened  my  life  and  property  continually  and 
in  all  manner  of  ways,  both  to  me  and  to  others,  so  that  it  was 
notorious.  Boasted  of  his  influence  and  backing,  and  openly 
swore  that  he  "was  like  Macbeth, — Damned  be  he  who  first 
cries  hold,  enough  !  " 

Once,  while  I  was  working  on  the  land,  he  brought  his  gun 
out  to  kill  or  drive  me  off.  There  were  others  present,  so  he 
left  his  carbine  midway  and  came  up,  with  brag  and  bluster,  to 
me,  to  whip  me.  He  also  had  a  big  dagger  on  him.  But  when 
I  shoved  my  hand  in  my  pocket,  with  neither  brag  or  bluster, 
he  suddenly  stepped  back,  left,  and  afterwards  swore  that  "but 
for  one  thing  he  would  have  shot  all  of  us  dead." 

I  kept  right  on  my  even  course,  as  I  had  been  doing  all 
those  years. 

Had  there  been  any  law  that  would  reach  the  gentleman, 
he  would  have  been  taken  care  of  years  before.  But  he  was  a 
man  of  linked,  secret  influence  and  backing. 

I  had  seen  in  my  school  books  pictures  portraying  the 
pioneer  of  a  century  ago,  performing  his  homage  with  a  musket 
slung  to  his  back,  to  protect  him  against  lurking  savages,  armed 
with  bows  and  tomahawks  and  crowned  with  feathers  ;  but  here 
I  was— like  many  others,  and  after  a  hundred  Fourth-of-July 
orations  and  solemn  vows — performing  my  homage  in  like 
manner  against  a  more  dangerous,  lurking  and  linked  foe,  arm- 
ed with  improved  rifles  and  gin,  and  crowned  with  the  flag  of 
my  country. 

When  Mr.  Jumper  had  thus  got  better  acquainted  with  me 
— that  he  could  not  drive  me  to  his  terms,  and  also  found  he 
could  make  no  crack  or  pretext  wherein  his  lawyer  gang  and 
court  could  enter  a  wedge  of  plunder,  we  got  sociable  when  we 
met,  talked  the  matter  over  in  a  friendly  way,  at  various  times, 
and  he  gave  up  the  job — and  started  in  to  jump  another  claim. 
Said  he  "  did  not  want  to  farm  any,  as  that  did  not  pay  the 


228  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 


farmer,"  but  had  claimed  my  place  as  a  "  business  venture," 
etc.,  would  not  trouble  me  any  more,  and  would  leave  the 
place.  Meanwhile,  he  was  hauling  water  from  my  spring. 
His  object  was  to  drive  me  to  buy  him  off,  or  kill  me,  if  he 
found  that  to  be  practicable,  or  his  backers  give  the  sign. 
And  other  brethren  standing  ready  to  take  his  place,  and  be 
bought  off  in  turn  if  that  plan  proved  successful. 

The  man  to  whom  I  had  given  the  privilet^e  to  haul  water 
for  the  saw-mill,  quit  it  after  a  month  or  two ;  others  continued 
it  for  a  time  without  any  consent  or  objection  from  me,  till  the 
grand  worthy  master  ,of  the  saw-mill  (whom  I  had  seen  parad- 
inc^  the  Bible  through  the  streets  with  his  gang)  came  over 
with  his  force  of  men  and  hell,  and  stealthily  put  up  a  big 
tank  some  distance  above  the  other  and  away  from  the  stream, 
on  ashy  ground  that  would  take  in  the  leakage  and  overflow, 
run  pipes  from  it  through  my  fence  to  the  springs ;  took  all  the 
water  into  his  tank,  and  posted  a  notice  forbidding  "  all  -persons 
from  taking  any  water  as  it  belonged  to  him."  The  thief  had 
jumped  the  j)lace  !  sneering  and  jeering  at  suggestions  of  his  own 
force  that  he  respect  my  rights. 

And,  presto  !  my  other  jumper  springs  up  and  renews  his 
claim  and  threats  to  me,  and  to  others  ;  declared  it  to  be  "  an 
outrage  for  one  man  to  own  all  the  land  in  the  country  and  the 
water  too,"  tore  down  my  fences,  etc.,  swore  he  would  now 
settle  me  with  an  ounce  of  lead,  etc.,  etc.,  boasted  that  "  they 
would  make  it  as  hot  as  hell  for  me  now,"  that  *'  he  had  taken 
my  school  land.  E  —  had  taken  my  pre-emption,  and  by  G — d ! 
we  will  soon  have  a  man  on  your  homestead !  "  And  was  more 
hostile  than  ever  before. 

A  man  who  had  condemned  and  opposed  the  gentleman, 
and  volunteered  to  loan  me  his  gun  to  defend  my  life  against 
him,  had  since  been  made  to  understand  that  he  was  a  secret 
sworn  brother  as  was  also  the  worthy  grand  master,  so  he  now 
urged  him  on  and  promised  him  assistance  against  me.  Said 
he  "  was  hound  to  assist  him." 

"  Only  tlie  actions  of  the  just, 

Smell  sweet,  and  blossom  in  the  dust." 

I  courteously  protested  to  the  worthy  grand  master  against 


Shanghaied  to  ti£e  Gang's  Bastile.  229 

depriving  me,  as  well  as  others,  of  "  even  water  for  domestic 
use  !  "  and  this,  too,  without  ever  asking  me  for  any,  to  which 
he  replied  with  grinning  contempt,  "  If  you  want  any  water  dig 
for  it ! "  forbid  me  interfering  with  his  grasp  on  it,  or  stand  in 
his  way,  or  "  he  would  whip  me,  would  fix  me  by  helping  the 
other  jumper  to  get  away  with  my  school  land,"  that  "  the 
place  was  not  mine,  and  he  would  prosecute  me  in  the  courts 
of  justice  (?)  for  $40  or  $50  a  day  for  every  day  the  mill  was 
idle,"  etc.,  etc. 

After  the  water  had  been  shut  off  from  the  people  long 
enough  for  them  to  feel  it  well,  and  the  jumping  of  it  had  be- 
come notorious,  in  spite  of  the  lying,  thieving  gang  to  blind  the 
facts,  and  I  had  examined  my  patent  and  the  numbers  closely, 
to  see  whether  I  really  did  own  the  place  against  such  a  bold, 
brazen  and  boisterous  claim  of  the  worthy  grand  master,  then 
I  tore  the  water  pipes  up,  re-possessed  and  held  my  own 
against  the  gang  of  lying  thieves,  till  they  were  re-enforced  by 
the  Government  they  prostitute  to  murder  and  ravage,  against 
which  "all  wisdom,  all  virtue,  all  courage,  are  vain." 

"  But  trutli  sliall  conquer  at  the  last, 
For  round  and  round  we  run, 
And  ever  the  right  comes  uppermost, 
And  ever  is  justice  done." 

The  worthy  grand  master  graded  an  expensive  road  to  a 
spring  in  a  deep  ravine,  moved  his  water  tank  from  my  place 
to  it  when  it  went  dry,  as  he  had  been  informed  it  would  be- 
fore he  located  his  mill. 

He  then  made  another  road  to  the  deeply  embedded  Pataha 
creek ;  this  not  being  very  practicable  either,  he  got  a  secret 
ring  brother  interested  to  go  to  buy  the  same  water  privilege  I 
had  freely  given  my  neighbor  at  the  outset,  and  which  he  him- 
self had,  till  he  jumped  the  whole  stream  and  violated  every 
principle  of  truth,  justice  and  decency  towards  his  benefactor. 
Indeed,  I  refused  an  offer  of  $150  for  but  four  months  use  of 
the  same  water  privilege  I  accorded  him  without  charge.  There 
was  a  good  vacant  stock  range  on  the  school  section,  and  back 
of  it  in  the  mountain,  but  it  was  quite  destitute  of  accessible 
water.     It  was  to  utilize  this  range  that  an  owner  of  a  large 


230  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

herd  offered  me  $150  that  I  refused,  to  simply  accommodate 
the  charitable  mason. 
^  August  22,  1878,  I  started  from  the  house  with  a  load  of 
wheat  to  sow  my  breaking  on  the  school  land  part  of  my  now 
envied  home,  accompanied  by  two  mounted  men  to  assist  me 
(of  late  years  I  had  sown  all  my  grain  on  horseback). 

Others  were  afraid  to  go  with  me  as  they  might  get  hit 
when  I  was  being  "  shot  out  of  the  field,"  as  Jumper  had  sworn 
he  would  do,  if  I  undertook  to  sow  the  ground  (but  a  jjeace 
officer  had  declined  to  interfere,  advising  me  to  "  be  prepared 
to  defend  myself  against  him,  and  thus  work  the  land.")  But 
these  two  men  were  on  friendly  terms  with  Jumper,  and  there- 
fore not  considered  in  danger,  though  there  was  something 
said  in  jest  about  "  drinking  gunpowder  "  as  we  started.  We 
had  proceeded  but  a  few  rods  when  we  met  the  "  secret  ring 
brother  from  the  saw-mill;"  stated  his  business,  when  I  invited 
him  to  go  along  up  to  the  field  and  we  would  talk  about  the 
water  matter  on  the  way.   • 

We  stopped  at  one  end  of  the  breaking  opposite  Jumper's 
cabin  when  I  handed  my  two  men  each  a  one-half  sack  of 
wheat  on  their  horses,  and  they  struck  out  to  sow  and  soon 
separated.  I  was  mounting  with  a  sack  myself — having  just 
made  the  ring  brother  mad  by  refusing  his  request  for  water — 
when  he  exclaimed,  "  There  comes  [Jumper^  noiv  loith  a  gim.'' 

Sure  enough,  he  was  coming  as  a  desperado  with  his  cocked 
carbine  in  both  hands  to  take  the  place,  and  was  about  to  meet 
one  of  my  men.  I  said,  "  Come  let  us  go  out  and  see  what  he  is 
going  to  do  ivith  it." 

"  I  dont  care  a  damn  lohat  he  does  tvith  it  !  "  was  the  reply. 
I  struck  out  and  joined  the  man  at  his  work,  (and  a  man,  who 
was  living  luith  Jumper  and  had  folloived  him  out  of  the  house, 
passed  by  us  and  joined  the  secret  ring  brother  at  my  ivagon.) 

Jumper,  with  his  cocked  carbine  in  both  hands  and  finger 
on  the  trigger,  closely  followed  us  around,  rolling  out  a  tirade 
of  boisterous,  bullying  profanity  and  threats,  fired  with  gin, 
trying  to  drive  lis  out  of  the  field,  I  having  nothing  but  my 
cocked  pistol  in  hand  for  defense  ;  whenever  he  would  bring 
the  muzzle  of  his  gun  at  me,  I  was  always  a  little  ahead  with 
my  pistol  at  him,  he  wanted  a  close  dead  shot,  and  tried  several 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  231 

times  to  get  it;  once  he  aimed  at  my  companion,  when  he 
threw  up  his  arms  and  brushed  down  his  sides,  saying,  "Don't 
point  your  gun  at  me,  you  see  I  am  not  armed !  "  and  exhorted 
him  to  "  quit  now,  that  he  knew  I  would  die  rather  than  be 
driven  out  of  my  own,"  and  after  thus  following  us  around,  he 
did  quit,  evidently  having  given  up  the  job. 

But  he  went  and  had  a  lengthy  conference  with  the  secre' 
brother  and  other  friend  at  my  wagon.  (I  had  less  dread  of 
dying  in  such  a  cause  than  desire  to  live  by  its  sacrifice,  and 
when  my  time  comes  let  it  be  in  such  a  fight.)  My  companion 
not  being  used  to  sow  grain  in  this  way,  I  continued  to  ride 
close  with  him  to  teach  him,  when  Jumper,  from  the  ever  after 
secret  conference  with  the  ring  brother,  came  tearing  and  boiling 
with  venom — hunting  my  life !  telling  my  other  hand  on  the 
way  to  *'  leave  the  field  as  a  friend,  for  there  is  going  to  be  troubled 
(My  companion  says,  "  look  aid  for  him  now  !  "  I  thought  I 
could  throw  myself  on  the  side  of  my  horse  for  protection  as 
readily  as  I  often  picked  my  hat  from  the  ground.)  Coming  on 
with  blood-shot  eyes,  and  with  the  most  horrid,  wicked,  flam- 
ing look  ever  seen  in  the  visage  of  man,  overtakes,  heads  us 
oflf,  belches  out  at  the  end  of  a  stream  of  jDrofauity,  "turn  bach! 
leave  thefeld  !  and  dont  come  back  nary  time  !  I  ivillfx  you  !  and 
ihein  I  ivill  kill  you  !  "  as  he  blazed  away  — twice,  I  returning 
the  fire  in  rapid  succession. 

My  first  and  his  second  shot  were  fired  together,  thus 
making  a  louder  report  than  any  other. 

My  horse  flaring  and  me  dodging  kept  me  from  shooting 
at  the  first  shot,  and  as  my  companion  also  dropped  down  on 
his  saddle,  I,  as  well  as  Jumper,  thought  he  was  hit — though, 
of  course,  shooting  at  me  ;  quickly  re-loading  with  the  lever, 
and  stepping  up  closer  and  more  to  the  side,  so  as  to  aim  be- 
hind my  companion  at  me,  he  quickly  fired  again,  sa3-ing,  "/ 
will  kill  you  !  "  but  at  the  same  instant  my  companion,  reaching 
back,  struck  down  the  muzzle,  so  the  charge  crashed  into 
the  rump  of  his  horse — ranging  downward  and  diagonally 
toward  me,  I  empt3ang  my  pistol  into  him  in  about  five 
seconds.  My  four  bullets  ranging  downward,  thus  stopping 
him  from  emptying  his  filled  magazine  into  me,  though  he  still 
had  strength  enough  for  a  terrific,  sanguinary  struggle— that 


232  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

followed  my  shots — for  control  of  tlie  gun.  My  companion 
having  gripped  it  as  he  struck  it  down.  Jumper  thus  jerked 
him  off  his  sinking  horse,  clubbed  him  against  the  head  with 
the  gun  breech,  and  dragged  him  forty  feet  over  the  ground,  so 
that  it  took  another  man  to  control  it,  just  as  he  had  got  it  re- 
loaded and  cocked  again. 

Then  Jumper  went  to  his  house,  boasted  that  "  he  had  shot 
my  companion  as  ivell  as  me,"  and  in  12  hours  died,  but  neither 
of  us  was  shot. 

The  "  secret  ring  brother  "  and  companion  run  away  (from 
the  wagon)  at  the  onset  of  the  fight,  reporting  that  I  was  shot. 

A  neighbor  at  a  distance  on  hearing  the  carbine  shots 
exclaimed,  "  there  I  France  is  shot  !  " 

The  foregoing  is  not  only  a  true  account  of  the  fight,  etc., 
and  prelude  to  it,  but  the  facts  as  stated  were  so  transparent, 
evident,  consistent  luithal,  and  susceptible  oi  positive,  certain  j^roof, 
that  it  should  carry  conviction  to  every  mind,  for  there  w' as  no 
hinge  or  loop  to  hang  an  honest  doubt  upon,  and  any  one 
swearing  to  the  contrary,  or  diversely,  would  gain  no  intelli- 
gent, honest  belief,  would  be  a  self-convicted,  perjured  liar,  and, 
if  given  justice,  would  be  punished  accordingly.  No  one  but  a 
thief  ever  has  or  will  dispute  this — such  as  are  liars  and 
thieves  of  the  first  magnitude. 

Inventions  of  the  enemy  : 

"  Where  logic  is  inverted  and  wrong  is  called  right." 
"  "Where  honor  is  lost  and  valor  fled, 
And  all  her  virtues  numbered  with  the  dead  ! ' 

I  neglected  to  swear  out  a  complaint  against  the  secret 
ring  brother  &  Co.,  (who  will  be  known  in  my  epitome.  Chap- 
ter XVIII,  as  the  "  Distant  and  officious  witness ")  when, 
presto !  he  swore  out  one  against  me,  charging  me  with 
murder  I  And  his  companion  at  the  wagon  was  suppressed, 
and  then  spirited  away,  for  he  wanted  to  tell  the  truth.  And 
other  secret  brethren — including  some  who  were  on  friendly 
and  sociable  terms  with  me  just  before  (though  not  all  such) — 
now  whipped  into  line,  snapped  and  snarled,  conspired,  in- 
trigued, and  wickedly  lied  and  swore  to  stab  me  down,  to  wring 
and  suck  my  heart's  blood  in  revenge  for  their  Danite,  and  to 


univer: 


234  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

praise  and  venerate  their  dead  brother-assassin,  home  ravager, 
and  ravishej' ! 

"  And  if  by  this  means  we  further  our  cause 
The  private  assassin  deserves  our  ajjplause. " 

The  day  before  the  fight,  Mrs.  E repelled  the  charita- 
ble and  to  be  venerated  Danite  brother  from  her  bed  and 
house  with  a  pistol,  while  struggling  to  ravish  her !  And  the 
very  day  of  our  fight  her  husband  started  out  with  a  gun  to 
kill  this  to  be  sanctified  saint,  for  his  brutal  attempt. 

* '  With  the  cloak  of  the  Bible  their  prostitution  to  veil, 
The  Devil's  a  saint  till  he  shows  us  his  tail. " 

Certainly,  none  of  them  ever  swore  or  said  anything  against 
me  but  what  could  be  shattered  by  its  own  rottenness  alone,  as 
well  as  by  their  slimy  characters.  Certainly,  there  was  no  man 
or  woman,  that  was  not  a  thief  at  heart,  that  did  not  rejoice 
that  the  to  be  sanctified  saint  of  these  Mormons  was  dead. 

His  own  brother-in-law  said,  that  "he  ought  to  have  been 
killed  years  before  for  his  crimes  !  " 

But  what  could  /  do  ?  What  could  anybody  do  ?  "When 
thrown  into  prison  without  any  hearing  ;  forced  to  employ  and 
trust  black-leg  shysters,  who  are  secret  sworn  brethren  to  the 
enemy,  stand  in  to  keep  you  in  jorison  for  witnesses  to  be 
falsely  held,  tortured,  tampered  with  and  spirited  away,  and 
a  jury  selected  by  secret  brethren ;  and  you  are  stabbed  and 
bled  at  every  pore,  and  your  ruin  fixed  !  Practises  every  kind 
of  deception,  treason  and  cruelty  known  to  the  villainous, 
slimy  trade,  destroys  correct  and  indisputable  diagrams  of  the 
scenes  of  strife,  and  rejects  the  measurement  of  the  ground  at 
the  last  minute  ! 

Assured  by  them  that  you  have  "  done  nothing,''  and  will 
be  freed  with  a  trial,  and  you  fear  no  danger,  for  you  know  no 
guilt. 

Bid  can  never  get  any  trial,  or  freedom,  or  even  a  hearing. 
"  That  keep  the  words  of  promise  to  our  ear,  and  break  it  to 
our  hope.  Told  me  such  things — oh  !  with  such  devilish  art." 
That  squelches  alike  the  bad  character  of  the  secret  brother, 
and  that  of  your  own  that  was  good  from  childhood.  Also 
sixty  per  ceni  of  your  witnesses  and  sixty  per  cent,  of  valuable 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  235 

facts  kuowu  to  the  remainder,  and  endeavors  to  squelch  your 
oion  evidence  entirely  as  "  unnecessary."  And  when  a  court  and 
executive  are  but  servile  tools  of  such  a  hideous,  grimly,  slimy, 
midnight  Mormon  gang,  who  recognizes  no  such  thing  as  right 
or  wrong,  heart  or  conscience,  justice  or  humanity  ! 

"  Is  this  then,"  thought  the  youth,  "  is  this  the  way 
To  free  man's  spirit  from  the  deadening  sway 
Of  worldly  sloth — to  teach  him  while  he  lives, 
To  know  no  bhss  but  that  which  virtue  gives  ?  " 

"  Oh,  that  a  dream  so  sweet  so  long  enjoy 'd, 

Should  be  so  sadly,  cruelly  desti'oy'd  ! 

His  faith  was  bartered  and  the  crime  was  done." — Moore. 

How  Teials  of  the  Beethren  are  Managed,  etc. 

B 's  trial  for  shooting  an  unarmed  man  (S )  doiun  in  the 

street.     "  Evidence  was  introduced  to   show   that   S was 

quarrelsome,  and  had  been  involved  in  several  rows  elsewhere." 

[Such  evidence  was  squelched  in  my  case.] 

Another  sample  case.  — "  One  hundred  and  thirtj'-six  ques- 
tions of  fact  were  propounded  to  the  jury,  and  which  they 
straggled  with  until  they  answered  them. 

[No  questions  were  asked  the  jury  in  my  case,  nor  did  any 
of  the  jury  ask  any  questions.^  "  The  argument  of  counsel  occu- 
pied about  eighteen  hours,  one  of  the  counsel  occupied  nearly 
half  that  time  in  opening  the  argument.''  [In  my  case  my 
counsel  (?)  talked  about  fifteen  minutes,  but  my  case  was  never 
opened,  presented,  plead,  or  argued  at  all.'] 

"Virtue  distressed"  could  get  no  protection  here. 

"And  shall  no  curse  for  j^erjury  be  paid? 
No  vengeance  vindicate  the  friend  betrayed?  " 

Another  sampile  case. — "  The  jury  returned  to  ask  '  If  a  man 
had  a  deadly  weapon  in  his  hand,  and  another  thought  he  was 
about  to  use  it  against  him,  and  shot  the  former  :  Would  it  be 
manslaughter  or  murder  ? '  The  Judge  replied  that  it  would 
be  neither." 

"But  say,  vain  trifler,  must  thy  years  be  told, 

What  bliss  is  centred  in  another's  gold? 

Let  angry  Heaven  dart 

Its  forked  lightrdng  through  your  guilty  heart." 


236  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

In  another  case  the  Chief  Justice  of  Washington  Territory 
charged  the  jury  as  follows  : 

"  The  law  is,  that  if  a  person,  or  his  family,  or  his  friends, 
are  assailed  or  approached  in  such  a  way  and  under  such  cir- 
cumstances as  to  induce  in  him  a  reasonable  belief  that  he  or 
they  are  in  imminent  danger  of  unlawfully  loosing  life  or  suf- 
fering great  bodily  harm,  or  being  driven  from  his  dwelling,  or 
that  his  dwelling  is  in  imminent  danger  of  being  unlawfully 
entered  or  destroyed,  or  seriously  injured,  he  will  be  justified 
or  excused  in  defending  himself,  or  his  family,  or  his  friends, 
or  his  dwelling,  as  the  case  may  be,  although  as  a  matter  of 
fact  he  be  mistaken  as  to  the  actual  extent  of  the  danger,  or 
the  danger  be  not  real,  but  only  apparent.  Of  course,  it  makes 
no  diflference  under  this  law  whether  the  dwelling  endangered 
or  in  question  is  a  Chinese  tent  or  a  white  man's  building. 
You  are  instructed  that  evidence  of  good  character  is  compe- 
tent in  favor  of  a  party  accused,  as  tending  to  show  that  he 
would  not  be  likely  to  commit  the  crime  alleged  against  him, 
and  in  doubtful  cases,  evidence  of  previous  good  character  is 
entitled  to  great  weight  in  favor  of  innocence.  And  if,  from 
the  evidence,  you  find  that  any  fact  necessary  to  establish  the 
defendant's  guilt  of  any  grade  of  crime  is  in  doubt,  then,  if  the 
prisoner  has,  by  evidence,  satisfied  you  that  he  was  up  to  the 
time  the  offense  is  alleged  to  have  been  committed,  a  man  of 
good  character,  the  presumption  of  law  is  that  the  supposed 
crime  is  so  inconsistent  with  the  former  life  and  character  of 
the  defendant  that  he  could  not  have  intended  to  do  the  crim- 
inal act,  and  it  would  be  your  duty  to  give  the  defendant  your 
benefit  of  the  presumption,  and  acquit  him.  All  killing  of  man- 
kind is  unlawful  except  such  as  happens  from  mere  accident 
or  mistake,  or  is  done  in  obedience  to  public  duty,  or  in  lawful 
defense  of  person,  habitation,  or  property." 

'  Of  the  wealth  of  mankind  they  all  seize  a  share, 
And  riot  alike  in  the  sjjoils  of  the  fair." 

Sec.  778  of  the  Territorial  Code  says,  "That  all  persons  accused  of 
crime  in  any  court  of  this  territory,  whether  by  indictment  or  otherwise, 
shall  be  admitted  to  bail  by  the  court,  where  the  same  is  i^ending,  or  by  a 
judge  m  vacation,  when  it  shall  appear  to  the  court  or  judge,  that  the  ac- 
cused has  offered    to  go  to  trial  in  good  faith,  and  without  collusion  with 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  287 

witnesses,  and  has  been  denied  a  trial  by  tlie  court and  the  bail 

bond  in  such  cases  shall  be  reasonable  and  at  the  sound  discretion  of  the 
court. 

Yet  1  was  held  to  languish  in  jail  nearly  ten  months,  always 
begging  for  a  trial  or  hearing,  and  ivas  less  i^'^'&pared  every  day  it 
was  delayed.  And  the  Judge  offered  to  grant  it  forthwith,  and 
yet  I  could  never  get  any  hearing  or  trial,  for  when  the  thing  did 
at  last  come  off  it  was  fixed  and  managed  so  that  it  was  a 
traitorous  job,  and  not  a  trial  at  all.  Nor  could  I  get  rid  of  the 
shysters,  when  I  found  them  out,  or  attend  to  my  case  my- 
self, as  I  tried  so  hard  to  do. 

Any  one,  who  denies  any  of  this,  is  a  liar,  a  thief  and  a  cur  ! 

"  Man,  false  man,  smiling,  destructive  man !  " 

"  Distinction  neat  and  nice  which  lie  between 
The  poisoned  chalice  and  the  stab  unseen." 

"Oh,  'twas  too  much— too  dreadful  to  endure  /" 

A  sample  of  a  Judge's  charge  in  behalf  of  a  mason,  even  when 
the  public  sentiment  was  so  bitter  against  him  that  a  guard 
had  to  be  stationed  at  the  jail  to  keep  him  from  being  lynched 
in  daylight,  till  sent  out  of  the  County.  The  officials  who  se- 
lected the  jury  being  secret  sworn  brethren,  of  course,  he  was  to 
be  acquitted  anyway.  However,  the  Court  said,  as  is  Tisual  for 
the  brethren : 

"In  order  to  convict  him  of  the  crime  alleged  in  the  indictment  or  of 
any  lesser  crime  included  in  it,  every  material  fact  necessary  to  constitute 
such  Clime,  must  be  proved  beyond  all  reasonable  doubt,  as  defined  in 
these  instructions. 

"And  if  you  entertain  any  such  reasonable  doubt  upon  any  single  fact 
or  element  necessary  to  constitute  the  crime,  then  the  jjrisouer  is  entitled 
to  the  benefit  of  such  doubt,  and  it  is  your  sworn  duty  to  find  a  verdict  of 
acquittal. 

' '  The  defendant  is  entitled  to  every  presumption  of  innocence  com- 
patible with  the  evidence  in  the  case,  and  if  it  is  i)ossible  to  account  for 
the  killing  of  the  deceased  upon  any  other  reasonable  hypothesis  than  that 
of  the  guilt  of  the  defendant,  it  is  your  duty  to  acquit  him. 

' '  There  is  evidence  in  this  case  tending  to  show,  that  the  killing  was 
in  self-defense  by  the  defendant,  and  was  an  excusable  or  justifiable  homi- 
cide. I  therefore  instruct  you  upon  the  doctrine  of  self-defense  and  justi- 
fiable homicide,  as  follows: 


238  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

"Where  an  assault,  tlireatening  instant  and  great  bodily  harm  is  made 
TiiJon  one  in  a  i)lace  -where  he  has  a  right  to  be,  he  is  not  obliged  to  retreat, 
bnt  may  stand  his  ground  and  use  all  force  reasonably  necessary  to  Yeiiel 
the  assault  and  relieve  liimseK  from  the  danger.  S — ,  if  so  assailed,  is  excus- 
able, if  he  acted  according  to  the  circumstances  as  they  appeared  to  him. 
[The  other  man  was  not  armed.]  And,  if  he,  acting  honestly  uj^on  such 
appearance,  did  no  more  than  it  was  reasonable  for  him  to  beheve  necessary 
for  his  defense,  he  is  exciisable  for  all  consequences  of  his  acts. 

"Or,  if  S — ,  from  the  circumstances  as  they  appeared  to  him  at  the 
time  of  shooting,  had  good  reason  to  believe,  and  did  beheve,  that  D —  was 
about  to  assault  him,  and  if,  under  such  aj^pearauces,  it  was  a  reasonable 
measure  to  adojit,  to  prevent  a  colhsion,  to  exhibit  the  pistol,  and  the  pis- 
tol was  accordingly  exhibited,  not  with  intent  to  assault  D —  but  as  an 
honest  act  of  precaution,  to  insure  his  own  safety  by  intimidating  D — ,  or 
by  haA-ing  it  ready  in  case  of  an  assault  upon  himself,  and  thereiipon  D — 
assaulted  S —  with  such  violence  as  reasonably  to  induce  S —  to  beheve 
himself  in  danger  of  his  life  or  great  bodily  harm,  and  S — ,  so  beheving, 
shot  D — ,  then  S —  is  excusable  and  should  be  acquitted  of  every  grade  of 
crime.  S — ,  acting  excusably  upon  circumstances  as  they  apjieared  to  him, 
would  not  be  less  excusable  if  it  afterwards  turned  out,  or  not  apjjears  to 
you,  that  the  ajipearances  were  deceitful  and  that  he  was  actually  mistaken 
as  to  the  reahty,  extent  or  character  of  the  danger. 

"It  is  also  your  province  and  your  duty  to  take  into  consideration  the 
general  character  of  the  deceased,  as  a  violent,  quarrelsome  and  bad  man, 
at  and  immediately  before  the  time  of  the  homicide,  so  far  as  the  same  is 
shown  by  the  evidence  offered  in  the  case,  if  you  believe  the  same  is  shown 
by  the  evidence  to  have  been  known  to  the  defendant,  at  the  time  of  the 
killing. 

' '  So  also,  any  threats  made  by  the  deceased  against  the  i>risoner  im- 
mediately before  the  homicide,  that  were  known  to  the  prisoner  at  the  time 
of  the  occurrence,  should  be  considered  by  you  when  discussing  and  jjass- 
ing  upon  the  right  of  the  j)risoner  to  act  upon  appearances." 

Another  Judge  in  another  case  "  advised  the  jury  that  the 
accused  should  receive  the  benefit  of  his  record  and  good 
character  previously." 

Selp-Defense. 

When  and  how  a  man  can  slay  another  and  have  the  law  on  his  side. 
A  well-known  jvidge  said  to  a  rejjorter  one  day  recently  :  "It  woud  be 
interesting  to  show  what  constitutes  the  right  of  self-defense  as  laid  down 
in  the  law  books.  The  right  of  self-defense  is  founded  on  the  law  of  nature, 
and  is  not  superseded  by  the  laws  of  society.  It  is  a  right  which  every 
one  brings  into  society,  and  retains  in  society,  except  so  far  as  the  laws  of 
society  have  curtailed  it.     Every  man  has  a  right  to  defend  himself  against 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  239 

an  attack  tlireatening  liim  witli  death  or  serious  bodily  harm,  and  his  inno- 
cence -will  be  presumed  untU  his  guilt  is  established  beyond  a  reasonable 
doubt.  The  I'ight  is  based  on  necessity,  and  arises  where  one  manifestly 
intends  and  endeavors,  by  violence  or  surprise,  to  commit  a  known  felony 
on  the  person,  habitation  or  projjerty  of  another.  It  is  a  defense  against  a 
present  iinlawful  attack;  as  where  an  assault  is  made  with  a  deadly  weajion, 
or  where  one  is  assaulted  in  his  habitation,  or  where  a  forcible  felony  is  at- 
tempted. The  law  of  self-defense  does  not  require  one,  whose  Hf e  has  been 
threatened,  to  seek  the  protection  of  the  law ;  nor  is  he  obHged  first  to  call 
on  the  authorities.  The  omission  to  seek  protection  from  the  authorities 
does  not  deprive  him  of  the  protection  of  the  law,  or  of  his  rights  of  self- 
defense. 

"The  right  of  self-defense  is  not  Hmited  to  the  actual  danger  threaten- 
ed. The  danger  of  death  or  great  bodily  harm  must  be  either  real,  or  be 
honestly  beUeved  at  the  time,  to  be  imminent  and  on  sufficient  grounds. 
A  reasonable  apprehension  of  danger  is  sufficient;  and  a  reasonable  ground 
for  beUef  that  there  is  a  design  to  destroy  Hfe,  to  rob,  or  commit  a  felony; 
a  reasonable  and  well-groiinded  behef ,  a  behef  arising  from  appearances 
that  the  danger  is  actual  and  imminent.  Guilt  must  depend  on  the  circum- 
stances as  they  appeared  to  him.  Apparent  danger  is  a  mixed  question  of 
law  and  fact.  A  man  is  justified  in  acting  for  his  defense  according  to  the 
circumstances  as  they  ai3j)ear  to  him. 

' '  The  law  of  self-defense  does  not  requii'e  one  whose  life  has  been 
threatened  to  leave  his  house  or  to  secrete  himself  to  avoid  his  foe.  When 
a  person  without  fault — in  a  jjlace  where  he  has  a  right  to  be — is  \'iolently 
assailed,  he  may,  withoiit  retreating,  repel  force  by  force,  in  the  reasonable 
exercise  of  his  right  of  self-defense.  He  is  not  obHged  to  retreat  or  go  to 
tlie  wall  from  an  assailant  armed  with  a  deadly  weapon,  and  if  he  is  driven 
to  the  wall  so  that  he  must  be  kiUed  or  sustain  great  bodily  harm,  and, 
therefore,  kills  his  assailant  it  is  excusable  homicide.  He  is  not  obHged  to 
retreat,  but  may  ijursue  until  he  is  out  of  danger,  and  may  kill  to  get  out 
of  danger;  but  when  the  attack  is  not  felonious  the  rule  of  law  is  different. 

"A  man  is  not  required  to  do  everything  in  his  power  to  avoid  the 
necessity  of  slaying  his  assailant.  Where  there  is  no  escape,  after  retreat- 
ing as  far  as  possible,  kilHng  will  be  justifiable,  so  where  retreat  is  im- 
possible or  perilous,  or  would  increase  the  danger,  or  where  further  retreat 
is  prevented  by  some  impediment,  or  was  as  far  as  the  fierceness  of  the 
assault  permitted.  But  if  the  assaulted  party  is  in  faiilt,  he  is  bound  to 
retreat  as  far  as  he  can  safely  do  so;  he  is  required  to  decHne  the  combat 
in  good  faith,  and  if  he  uses  all  the  means  in  his  power  to  escape,  even 
kiUing  in  self-defense  is  lawful.  But  if  a  man  seeks  to  bring  on  a  difficulty 
and  slays  his  adversary  he  can  not  avail  himself  of  the  pica  of  self-defense. 
That  a  party  has  been  struck  gives  him  no  right  to  retaHate  by  an  assault. 

"An  act  done  from  necessity  raises  no  presumption  of  a  criminal  in- 
tent; but  the  necessity  must  be  actual,  imminent,  and  api^arent,  with  no 


240  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

otlier  probable  or  possible  means  of  escaj^e.  It  must  be  great,  and  must 
arise  from  imminent  peiH  to  life  or  limb.  Men,  when  threatened  -with 
danger,  must  determine  the  necessity  of  resorting  to  self-defense,  and  they 
^^'ill  not  be  held  responsible  for  a  mistake  in  the  extent  of  the  actual  danger, 
nor  be  subject  to  the  peril  of  maldng  that  guilty,  if  apjjearances  prove 
false,  -which  Avould  be  innocent  if  they  proved  true.  There  must  be  at  least 
an  apparent  necessity,  an  actual  necessity,  or  a  reasonable  belief  of  such 
necessity,  to  ward  off  some  impending  harm.  Necessity  is  a  defense  when 
the  act  charged  was  done  to  avoid  irrei:)arable  evil,  from  which  there  was 
no  other  adequate  means  of  escape,  and  the  remedy  Avas  not  disjaroiJOi-tion- 
ate  to  the  threathened  evil;  and  the  necessity  must  not  have  been  created 
by  the  fault  of  him  who  pleads  it,  nor  be  occasioned  by  him,  nor  be  the 
result  of  his  own  culpability,  nor  be  rashly  rushed  into;  and  in  cases  of 
assault  or  intrusion  by  strangers  no  more  force  than  is  necessary  must  be 
used  in  repeUiug  the  assault. 

"The  light  of  self-defense  does  not  include  the  right  of  retribution. 
A  party  assaiilted  is  justified  in  using  such  force  as  is  necessary  to  repel  an 
assailant,  but  no  more,  and  if  unnecessary  force  is  used  he  becomes  the 
assailant.  The  degree  of  force  must  not  exceed  the  bounds  of  defense  and 
prevention,  and  this  depends  on  the  circumstances  of  each  case,  and  the 
condition  of  both  parties  may  be  considered.  A  party  in  possession  of 
property  may  iTse  force  sufficient  to  protect  it.  "Whether  a  man  is  justified 
in  employing  in  the  first  instance  such  means  of  resistance  as  will  jjroduce 
death,  depends  on  the  circumstances  and  the  nature  of  the  attack,  and  he 
may  not  always  use  a  deadly  weapon,  and  it  is  still  ftirther  W'rong  if  it  is  a 
concealed  weapon.  But  if  the  taking  of  hf  e  is  necessary  it  Avill  be  excus- 
able. It  is  always  excusable  when  in  defense  of  life,  yet  it  requires  a  great 
disparity  of  size  and  strength  and  a  very  violent  attack  to  excuse  the  taking 
of  hfe.  A  party  may  use  whatever  force  is  necessaiy  to  avert  the  apparent 
danger,  although  it  may  afterward  appear  that  the  gun  Avas  not  loaded, 
and  that  there  was  no  real  danger." — Louisville  Commercictl. 

"  He  jests  at  scars,  tliat  never  felt  a  wound." 
"  And  now  one  cannot  but  complain  here  of  fortune  as 
still  envious  of  virtue,  and  hindering  the  performance  of  glori- 
ous achievements  ;  this  was  the  case  of  the  man  before  us, 
when  he  had  just  attained  his  purpose,  for  he  then  stumbled 
at  a  certain  large  stone  and  fell  innocently  into  the  hands  and 
power  of  felons,  robbers,  perjurers,  and  thieves," — History. 

Sec.  956  of  the  Washington  Territory  Code  says :  "No  distinction  shall 
exist  between  an  accessory  before  the  fact  and  a  piincii^al,  or  between 
principals  in  the  first  and  second  degree  and  all  persons  concerned  in  the 
commission  of  an  ofi'ense,  whether  they  directly  counsel  the  act  constitut- 
ing the  ofi'ense,  or  counsel,  aid  and  abet  in  its  commission,  though  not 
present,  shall  hereafter  be  indicted,  tried  and  punished  as  principals." 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gangs  Bastile.  241 


Tet  none  of  those  who  "  counseled,  aided  and  abetted  "  my 
conduct  were  found  guilty  of  any  crime,  not  even  the  justice  of 
the  peace,  under  whose  direct  advice  (the  day  before)  I  acted 
to  the  letter.  And  he  oflfered  to  and  did  loan  me  the  very  seed 
for  the  very  same  stated  purpose  I  icas  solving  at  the  fight,  (as  I 
would  not  thresh  till  late  in  the  fall)  and  he  knew  every  phase 
of  the  case. 

But  after  the  fight  confessed  (like  the  brother  that  loaned 
me  his  pistol)  that  he  "  icould  have  to  do  just  as  the  [black-leg 
leader  of  the  linked  mob]  said." 

As  hard  as  I  tried,  I  could  not  get  even  this  witness  sub- 
poenaed to  testify  at — what  was  called —  my  trial  (?), 

And  I  "  must  not  tell  of  any  of  these  villainies  or  die,''  must  I? 
You  damned,  cowardly  midnight  assassins,  traitors  and  thieves. 

Nor  were  any  of  those  who  "  counseled,  aided  and  abetted  " 
their  Danite  Jumper  molested  at  all. 

Sec.  958  of  the  Code  says:  "Every  person  who  sliall  become  an  ac- 
cessory after  the  fact  to  any  felony  may  be  indicted,  convicted  and  punish- 
ed, whether  the  j^iincipal  felon  shall  or  shall  not  have  been  convicted  pre- 
viously, or  shall  or  shall  not  be  amendable  to  justice  by  any  court  having 
jurisdiction  to  try  the  principal  felon  and  either  in  the  county  where  such 
person  shall  become  an  accessory,  or  in  the  county  where  such  (principal) 
f  eloney  shall  have  been  committed. " 

Yet  none  of  the  sivorn,  slimy  gang  have  been  molested  to  this 
day. 

'  'Oh  !  'tis  not,  Hinda,  in  the  power 

Of  fancy's  most  terrific  touch 

To  paint  thy  pangs  in  that  dread  hour — 

Thy  silent  agony — 'twas  such 

As  those  who  feel  coidd  paint  too  well, 

But  none  e'er  felt  and  lived  to  tell !  " — Moore. 

Sec.  1079  of  Code  sails:  "In  prosecution  for  capital  offenses,  the  de- 
fendant may  challenge  peremptoiily  twelve  (12)  jurors." 

I  was  not  permitted  to  know  or  to  find  out  anything  about 
the  jury  so  as  to  challenge  anybody.  Was  forced  to  trust  to 
shysters  who  were  masons  and  odd-fellows  themselves. 

The  prosecution  (if  you  know  which  side  I  mean  by  that) 
used  all  of  their  challenges,  and  had  a  servile  gin-soaked  mason 
to  select  others. 
16 


212  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

' '  Yes — if  there  be  some  happier  sphere 
Where  fadeless  tnith  hke  oui's  is  dear: — 
If  there  be  any  land  of  rest 
For  those  who  love  and  ne'er  forget." 

"And  must  I  leave  thee  -withering  here, 

The  sport  of  every  mflBans  tread, 

The  mark  for  eveiy  coward's  spear?  " — Moore. 

See.  1082  of  Code  says : — "Challenges  for  cause  shall  be  allowed  foi 
such  cause  as  the  court  may,  in  its  discretion,  deem  sufficient,  ha^-ing  refer- 
ence to  the  causes  of  challenge  prescribed  in  civil  cases,  as  far  as  they  may 
be  appHcable  and  to  the  substantial  rights  of  the  defendant." 

Yet  there  were  no  cliallenges  for  cause  made  in  my  case, 
and  both  masons  and  odd-fellows  sat  on  the  jury. 

"  It  is  not  easy  for  those  who  have  not  suffered  wrong  from 
this  cause  to  conceive  the  depth  of  indignation  and  bitterness 
of  dismay  which  an  honest  and  truthful  man  feels,  on  finding 
himself  defeated  in  a  righteous  caiise,  sworn  out  of  court,  out 
of  money  and  even  reputation,  and  placed  in  an  utterly  false, 
invidious  and  unmerited  position  by  placid,  habitual,  reputable, 
unflinching  perjurers.  He  had  i  elied  upon  the  sanctity  which 
the  tender  conscience  attaches  to  an  oath,  for  all  he  requires 
for  his  vindication  is  merely  the  admission  of  the  simple  truth. 
But  the  consciences  to  which  he  appeals  are  seared  by  the 
practice  of  hypocrisy  and  falsehood,  and  looking  upon  an  affi- 
davit, oral  or  written,  merely  as  a  convenient  weapon  of  legal 
warfare,  to  be  used  with  regard  not  to  truth,  but  to  expediency; 
he  becomes  the  victim  of  his  own  trust  in  others'  inviolable 
veneration  for  an  oath. 

If  the  best  cause  is  thus  liable  to  be  overthrown,  and  the 
aims  of  justice  frustrated  by  the  overreaching  of  perjury,  the 
question  is  forced  upon  us  :  Is  this  vice  to  be  allowed  to  tri- 
umph over  and  to  trample  trusting  uprightness  under  foot  ?  " 

"The  bud  bit  -with  an  en\'ious  worm, 

Ere  he  can  spread  his  sweet  leaves  to  the  aii'." 

"  All  things  else  that  have  any  strength  are  mortal  and 
short-lived  ;  but  truth  is  a  thing  that  is  immortal  and  eternal. 
It  affords  us  not,  indeed,  such  a  beauty  as  will  whither  away 
by  time,  nor  such  riches  as  may  be  taken  away  by  fortune,  but 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  243 

righteous  rules  and  laws.  It  distinguishes  them  from  injustice 
and  puts  what  is  unrighteous  to  rebuke." 

"  Good  men  then  will  greet  it  with  a  smile." 

Sec.  1105  of  Code  says:  As  to  causes  for  new  trials  or  arrest  of  judg- 
ment. "ApiDlication  must  be  made  before  judgment  and  may  be  granted 
for  the  f ollo-w-iug  causes — For  newly  discovered  e-sidence  material  for  the 
defendant,  which  he  could  not  have  discovered  with  reasonable  diligence 

and  produced  at  trial.     Accident  or  surjirise Misdirection  of 

jury  by  court  in  a  material  matter  of  law,  excepted  to  at  the  time.  When 
the  verdict  is  contrary  to  law  and  e\'idence.  Excej^tions  may  be  taken  bv 
the  defendant,  as  in  civil  cases,  on  any  matter  of  law  by  which  his  sub- 
stantial rights  are  prejudiced." 

Samples  have  been  given  of  the  material  and  vital  evidence 
which  I  could  not  produce  at  that  time  on  account  of  traitor- 
ous duress  and  being/orcefZ  to  trust  to  the  shysters.  And  the 
verdict  was  so  plainly  contrary  to  law,  and  the  evidence,  even 
as  it  was,  that  after  the  verdict  of  murder  in  the  second  degree 
was  rendered  (and  a  ten  year's  sentence)  I  demanded  of  the 
foreman  of  the  packed  jury  to  know  on  "  what  'point,  or  on 
what  (ji^ound,  or  on  what  evidence  they  found  their  verdict  ?  " 
And  he  could  not  give  any  ;  said  he,  "  if  I  had  not  shot  so  often 
they  could  not  have  made  anything  out  of  it." 

And  this  when  it  was  established  that  the  danger  was 
apparent,  believed,  and  7'eal,  even  afte?-  I  had  done  shooting.  (See 
Epitome  to  the  Governor,  Chapter  XVIII ) 

And,  certainly,  my  "  substantial  rights  luere  prejudiced  "  by 
such  a  job  and  verdict. 

"  How  many  warm  friends  turn  cold  and  clammy  when  a  man 
is  in  trouble  f  " 

As  to  "  Accident  or  Surprise."  Was  not  the  whole  outrage  an 
"accident"  to  me? 

What  can  a  victim  do  in  his  own  behalf  when  held  down  in 
jail,  and  the  officials  belong  to  the  secret  government  and  gang, 
first,  last,  and  all  the  time.  And  even  spy  and  rifle  his  correspon- 
dence ! — lawless  as  such  conduct  is — and  stand  in  with  the  shys- 
ters and  gang,  to  deceive,  harrass  and  bleed  him  at  every  pore  ! 

Two  witnesses  had  been  thrown  and  held  in  jail  on  a  false 
charge,  and,  without  a  hearing,  tormented  and  frightened  till  they 


244  Defending  my  Life  and  Home. 

"would  swear  that  Jumpei-'s  carbine  was  pointed  at  my  near  (un- 
armed) companion,  and  not  at  me  when  he  fired. 

It  required  three  or  four  months  of  this  treasonable  treat- 
ment and  management,  intrigue  and  cruelty  to  bring  one  of  them  to 
terms  and  six  months  longer  to  fix  the  other.  And  they  were  held  and 
tormented  and  frightened,  and  my  trial  {?)  delayed  accordingly,  while  I 
was  pleading  and  begging  for  a  trial  / 

'^  Wisdom  and  truth  may  seek  to  convince,  or  eloquence  to 
charm,  but  only  one  influence  can  be  biiilt  upon  as  certain — the 
magnetic  attraction  of  superior  villainj^" 

"I  saw  those  friends  in  fruitless  sorrow  moiirn, 
From  mirth,  society,  subsistence  torn." 

One  of  my  (?)  shysters  told  me  at  the  onset  of  my  "  trial  " 
that  one  of  these  witnesses  "  still  stated  to  him  the  very  same 
account  of  the  fight  that  he  had  to  him  and  to  so  many  others  all 
the  time  from  the  fight,  and  that  it  still  agreed  ivith  my  oicn  as 
to  every  pointy  And  that  he  "  knew  nothing  to  the  contrary  as 
to  the  other,"  adding  that  "  You  will  soon  go  home  now."  And 
neither  I  nor  my  friends  knew  of  the  success  of  this  trick  till  it 
teas  sprung  on  the  stand. 

How  is  that  J  or  a  "Surprise,"  and  another  reason  for  a 
new  trial  ?  And  when  it  could  easily  be  proven  that  one  had 
even  made  an  affidavit  to  the  truth,  as  I  have  given  it  before, 
aad  the  other  had  told  the  truth  so  often  to  others — including 
his  wife — tliat  she  did  not  hnoto  that  he  had  ever  said  anything  to 
thecontrary  till  years  afterwards,  and  to  this  day  (1889)  he  ridicules 
the  idea  that  Jumper  tvas  trying  to  Mil  anyone  hid  me,  and  a  week 
ago  said  that  "  neither  he  nor  anyone  else,  as  far  as  he  kneiv,  ever 
believed  to  the  contrary." 

But  even  had  the  jury  believed  it,  the  idea  of  its  being 
murder  for  defending  a  friend's  life  against  such  an  animal  and 
under  such  circumstances ! 

The  English  and  Indian  languages  are  too  barren  of 
epithets,  and  hell  is  too  mild  to  do  such  gentlemen  justice ! 

On  my  "  gentlemen  of  the  bar  "  refusing  to  move  for  a  new 
trial,  I  was  doing  so  myself  when — as  usual — I  was  beat  down 
by  their  plea  to  the  court  in  opposition  —  "  that  they  had  couu- 
ciled  with  the  other  members  of  the  bar  and  found  that  it  ivould 
not  he  to  their  client's  interest  to  have  a  neiu  triaV 


Shanghaied  to  the  Gang's  Bastile.  245 

"  Each  star  of  hope  that  eheer'd  him  on — 
His  glories  lost — his  cans--  h-  traxjed." 

"And  though  his  life  has  pass'd  away, 

Like  lightning  on  a  stormy  day. 

Yet  shall  his  death-hoiir  leave  a  track 

Of  glory,  pennanent  and  bright, 

To  which  the  brave  of  after-times. 

The  siifieidng  brave,  shall  long  look  back 

With  proud  regret — and  by  its  hght 

"Watch  through  the  hours  of  slavery's  night 

For  vengeance  on  the  oppressor's  crimes!  " — Moore. 

"  He  has  retired,  it  is  true,  but  his  ambition,  though  seem- 
ingly smothered,  still  burns  within,  and  his  principles  are  un- 
altered." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  pilgrimage  through  hell ! — Seven  years'  experience  in  the  Seatco  contract 
bastile. — The  kind  of  a  hell  and  s^nindle  this  was. — How  I  was  taken 
there. — A  three  or  four  days  journey  by  wagon,  boat  and  rail — How  I 
was  judged  by  peo^jle  on  the  road. — Sympathy. — "Either  innocent  of 
crime,  or  a  very  bad  man. " — The  set  questions  asked  by  those  who 
had  suffered  likewise. — Description  of  the  bastile. — How  I  was  im- 
pressed.—The  kind  of  people  I  f  ound  the  piisoners  to  be. — ^And  the 
officials. — How  they  were  employed. — T\Tiat  they  had  done  and  what 
they  had  not  done, — Their  comi)laints,  etc. — Jumjiing  away. — The 
crooked  and  rocky  road  to  liberty. — "V\Tio  got  there  and  how. — The 
inquisition  of  the  mind. — How  jirisoners  are  driven  to  the  frenzy  of  des- 
pau'  and  death.  — "\IMiat  they  earned  and  were  worth  to  the  gang.  — "^Tiat  it 
cost  the  peojjle. — What  they  got  to  eat  and  wear. — How  they  were 
treated  when  well  and  when  sick. — The  punishments. — How  I  was  en- 
gaged while  in  the  midst  of  flaming  desolation. — Crazy  prisoners. — 
The  good  and  bad  quahties  and  conduct  of  the  officials. — The  redeem- 
ing feature  of  the  institution. — The  different  natiouahties  and  occupa- 
tions reijresented  and  their  experiences. — One  of  the  Polaris'  crew;  six 
months  on  an  ice-floe. — The  good,  bad  and  mixed. — The  innocent, 
guilty,  and  the  victims  of  cii-cumstances,  whiskey  and  accidents. — In- 
equahty  of  sentences  and  treatment. — Robbing  the  cradle  and  the  gi-ave 
for  seventy  cents  a  day. — How  the  prisoners  Hved  and  died. — The  cen- 
sorship on  coiTesjiondence,  and  the  real  object  of  the  same. — A  secret 
jii-ison. — Shanghaied  jirisoners  try  to  make  theii-  cases  known  to  the 
pubhc. — How  the  Governor  stood  in  with  the  gang. — Letters  smiiggled 
by  ministers,  members  of  the  Legislature,  himiane  guards,  etc. — 
Squelching  letters  of  ^'ital  importance. — "Damn  you,  you  csucii prove 
it!  " — Like  abuses  in  the  Insane  asylum. — The  remedy. — A  plea  thai 
any  prisoner'  shall  at  least  be  accorded  a  public  hearing  and  let  ^7^e  People 
judge. — The  worst  ciiminals  not  in  jirison  but  in  office. — Then-  victims 
crushed. — A  pet  prisoner  turned  in  "n-ith  a  bottle  of  whiskey  and  a 
pistol  in  his  pockets. — The  ^'isiting  preachers. — What  they  thought  of 
the  i^risoners  and  of  the  officials. — One  that  was  a  thorough-bred  and 
would  fight  the  devil  in  any  gmse. — "WTiat  he  did  for  refoiTU,  and  how 
he  was  bounced. — Can  wiite  to  him  yourself. — Cruel  decej^tion. — False 
and  cheating  hoj^es. — "There  is  France  !  If  he  had  not  been  so  anxious 
about  getting  home,  he  would  have  been  out  long  ago." — "Must  keep 
still  and  not  bore  anybody." — How  the  still  and  meek  languished  and 
died! — How  other  jirisoners  were  shanghaied. — "Bad  conduct." — My 
conduct." — Strikes,  etc. — How  officials  are  interested  against  a  iinson- 
ers  justice. — How  "heaven  is  sometimes  just  and  pays  us  back  in 
measures  that  we  mete." — How  prisoners  are  robbed.- — Women  prison- 
ers,   and  how  they  were  treated. — Visits  of  the  Legislature,  etc. — A 

(246) 


How  TO  KuN  A  Eefokm  Pkison.  247 

prisoner  makes  a  great  sjjeech  and  liis  teetli  are  pulled  out  for  tlie 
trouble  it  makes  the  officials. — What  the  Legislature  said,  and  what 
they  did. — The  i^ardoning  power  and  how  it  was  exercised. — The  lie, 
that  "to  hear  prisoners  talk  they  are  all  innocent." — Keading  matter, 
etc. — How  to  control  prisoners. — How  they  get  revenge. — How  prison- 
ers should  be  treated. — Where  they  should  be  kept. — How  a  jorison 
should  be  conducted  to  be  self-sup2:)oi-ting  and  to  reform  those  who 
need  reforming. — How  to  enforce  the  Sacred  right  of  petition,  and  the 
sober  second  thought  of  the  peoj^le. 

1  EEEITOEIAL  prisoners  had  been  kejjt  in  the  different 
county  jails  (where  they  should  have  remained),  but  at  the  then 
last  session  of  the  legislature  there  was  a  proposition  in  the 
interest  of  the  people,  that  the  general  Government  sell  to  the 
territory  for  $36,000,  on  time,  its  prison  situated  on  McNiels 
Island,  Puget  Sound.  The  prison  cost  the  United  States 
$50,000  and  was  worth  with  the  ground  over  $100,000. 

But  a  gang  of  Free  Masons  wanted  to  get  the  prisoners  by 
contract,  and  got  a  committee  of  their  brethren  appointed  to 
examine  the  property  and  report  it  to  be  "  unsafe  for  keeping 
prisoners."  This  was  a  brazen  falsehood — it  being  as  safe  as 
perhaps  any  other  prison  in  the  United  States,  it  being  built 
of  iron,  stone  and  brick,  and  on  the  general  plan  of  all  United 
States  prisons,  and  being  on  a  small  island.  Moreover,  no 
prisoner  had  ever  broken  out  of  the  jwison. 

Here  the  prison  could  be  made  self-supporting,  and  without 
any  abuse  of  the  prisoners,  but  as  the  legislature  contained 
masons  enough  to  control  its  proceedings  it  discarded  the 
generous  offer  of  the  Government,  and  gave  to  the  aforesaid 
brethren  a  contract  for  the  keeping  of  all  territorial  prisoners 
for  six  (6)  years,  giving  them  seventy  cents  per  day  for  each 
prisoner,  and  all  their  labor,  besides  paying  for  their  transporta- 
tion to  the  prison.  Others  would  keep  the  prisoners  for  much 
less  pay,  but  they  were  ignored. 

The  contractors  built  a  prison  of  wood,  40x150  feet,  two 
stories  high,  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,000,  in  the  woods  on  the  N. 
P.  railroad  near  a  coal  mine,  in  which  they  expected  to  utilize 
their  labor.  They  also  run  a  cooper  shop  making  fish  barrels, 
and  had  a  tract  of  land  to  clear,  grub  au'l  cultivate,  also  a  brick- 
yard, and  were  to  cut  wood  for  the  railroad  and  build  short 
branches  for  the  same.     A  large  sash  and  door  factory  was  also 


2-i8  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 


built  and  run  with  the  prison  labor  -  and  all  for  the  benefit  of 
the  gang. 

In  two  or  three  weeks  after  my  sentence,  one  of  these  con- 
tractors (full  of  gin)  came  for  me  and  another  prisoner.  I  was 
taken  out  in  the  yard,  double-ironed  by  a  blacksmith,  and  we 
started  by  wagon  for  "Walla  Walla,  where  we  would  go  by  rail 
to  the  Columbia  river,  thence  by  boat  to  Portland  and  Kalama, 
thence  by  the  N.  P.  railroad  to  the  Seatco  Bastile. 

I  had  often  desired  to  travel  over  this  route,  but  not  as  a 
desperado  and  in  double  irons.  But  this  is  the  way  I  was 
driven  from  the  country  where  I  had  worked  so  hard  and  pros- 
pered so  well. 

I,  however,  expected  that  my  stay  at  the  prison  would  be 
brief,  and  I  could  then  travel  as  I  pleased. 

We  were  three  or  four  days  on  the  road,  and  the  pas- 
sengers and  others  I  met  were  very  friendly,  refusing  to  be- 
lieve I  was  such  a  bad  man  though  I  told  them  that  twelve 
men  had  been  found  who  had  sworn  it  without  asking  a  single 
question.  One  group  decided  after  discussing  the  matter,  that 
"  he  is  either  entirely  innocent  of  crime,  or  else  a  very  danger- 
ous man,"  but  they  were  generally  unable  to  understand  how  I 
could  be  convicted,  having  such  a  strong  case  of  self-defense, 
and  considered  it  a  great  outrage  that  "the  Governor  was 
sworn  to  correct."  There  were  some,  however,  who  had  had 
like  experiences  with  the  courts,  and  simply  asked  me  a  few 
questions.  "  Was  the  man  you  killed  or  those  backing  him 
masons  or  odd-fellows  ?  "  "  Were  they  Avho  selected  the  jury  ?  " 
"  Was  the  Judge  ?  "  "  Were  your  lawyers?  "  And  when  I  had 
answered  "  Yes!  "  to  each  question,  they  understood  the  matter, 
and  gave  me  their  like  experiences.  And  there  were  some  who 
knew  one  of  my  attorneys  in  Oregon,  which  was  enough  for 
them  ;  said  "  he  had  conspired  to  murder  a  man  for  his  money  " 
— anyway  he  had  got  away  with  the  murdered  man's  money. 
And  we  wondered  whether  the  people  would  ever  learn,  with- 
out flaming  experience,  to  discard  their  secret  sworn  enemies 
for  office  or  trust.  Arriving  at  the  prison  we  were  turned  into 
a  hall,  22x90  feet,  up  stairs ;  the  dining-room,  kitchen,  tailor 
and  shoe  shop,  and  the  guards'  quarters  being  on  the  same 
floor  ;  the  cells  being  below  and  generally  used  only  to  sleep  in. 


iS 


•',  ^-'^^  <         \ ' ;..'  ^, "],  1 '  lu,'l !  ^i! ,'  ),|fc  '  !h  1  -  ^1 


(249) 


250  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 


I  thouglit  it  hard  usage  to  be  ironed  like  a  felon,  having 
prided  myself  on  my  good  and  peaceable  character,  and  know- 
ing that  a  jury's  verdict  did  not  change  a  fact ;  but  I  thouglit 
this  would  end  at  the  prison.  I  was,  however,  soon  undeceived, 
for  when  the  prisoners  came  in  from  work  the  sight  and  clatter 
of  chains  was  deafening  and  damnable,  nearly  all  being  in 
heavy  double  irons,  riveted  to  their  legs,  wearing  them  day  and 
night,  sick  or  well  —  all  the  time.  Here  were  links  and  rings 
that  were  true  emblems  of  practical  masonry,  and  solid,  livid 
proof  of  its  cruel  inhumanity  to  other  men. 

"  The  liunted  citizen  Lis  death  demands, 
Is  thus  cast  into  the  torturer's  hands." 

' '  Be  not  abashed,  resign  thy  fear, 
Though  weak  and  small  thou  art, 
'T-^ras  honest  labor  brought  thee  here, 
And  freedom  bids  thee  part." 

"  Thus  spoiled  and  degraded,  (hey  tcere  delivered  over  without  pro- 
tection, they  and  their  families,  to  the  insults  of  hired  banditti." 

"  Consider  the  absolutely  defenseless  condition  of  the  ac- 
cused, the  whole  power  of  the  body  politic  is  marshalled 
against  the  individual,  it  is  the  commonwealth  against  the 
citizen.  A  grand  jury  has  declared  his  probable  guilt  ivUliout 
giving  Mm  a  hearing  ;  an  organized  and  secret  tribunal  [of 
masons]  has  furnished  the  trusted  officers  of  the  law  [also 
masons]  the  names  of  the  accusers,  and  the  judicial  power  of 
the  State  has  been  brought  into  action  to  compel  their  pres- 
ence before  the  bar  of  Justice  (?).  If  necessary  the  most 
talented  and  unscrupulous  advocates  in  the  land  are  summoned 
to  aid  the  already  seemingly  invincible  combination  of  power. 
In  what  painful  contrast  is  the  position  of  the  prisoner,  fre- 
quently suffering  physically  from  confinement,  and  mentally 
from  the  terrible  nature  of  the  struggle  for  life  and  liberty  in 
which  he  is  engaged  ;  often  with  insufficient  or  treacherous 
thieving  counsel,  and  loithout  the  oj^jyortunity  of  searching  out  his 
own  witnesses,  or  having  others  'perfor)n  this  necessary  labor  for 
him.  The  jury  asks  the  question,  "  If  this  man  is  not  guilty 
why  is  he  here  ?     Why  are  all  these  officials  paid  by  the  State 


How  TO  KuN  A  Befokm  Pmsox.  251 

to  convict  liim  ?  "  and,  ivhen  a  secret  sign  is  given,  answers,  "  Of 
course  he  is  guilty,  or  he  would  not  be  here."  Thus  the  prisons 
contain  so  large  a  proportion  of  innocent  men  -  a  proportion 
iticreasing  year  hy  year. 

The  juror  who  is  false  to  his  duty  is  worse  than  any  crim- 
inal he  may  condemn.  He  is  false  to  his  citizenship,  false  to 
his  duty,  false  to  his  oath,  false  to  his  God.  In  violation  of  his 
oath  he  places  upon  his  fellow-citizen,  his  fellow-man  a  brand 
of  infamy  which  shall  never  be  removed,  he  deprives  him  of 
that  greatest  of  civil  rights,  liberty !  degrades  him  temporarily 
to  servitude,  and  places  him  within  the  walls  of  a  house  of 
torture,  whence  he  shall  come  forth  to  be  followed  by  scorn, 
relentless  and  remorseless." 

*'  Go,  crucify  that  slave.     For  wliat  offense  ? 
Who  tlie  accuser  '?     Where  the  evidence  ? 
For  when  the  life  of  man  is  in  debate, 
No  time  can  be  too  long,  no  care  too  great, 
— Hear  all,  weigh  all  with  caution." 

An  offense  against  the  gang  is  committed,  an  outsider  is 
arrested,  the  whole  official  system  is  put  in  motion  to  concoct 
evidence  of  his  guilt,  the  wretched  man  is  flung  into  prison  and 
is  kept  there  until  his  health  is  broken  down,  his  hoj^es  of 
justice  extinguished,  and  his  means  of  defense  extorted  and 
wasted  away,  an  accommodating  judge  and  jurors,  who  are 
tools  of  the  gang,  are  selected  by  officials  who  are  brother 
members  of  the  same  to  try  the  case,  and  the  whole  secret  gang 
— their  press  and  all — are  let  loose  with  a  significant  sign  of 
pillage  and  revenge,  arrogance  and  spleen. 

"  And  thou — curst  man  or  friend,  what'ere  thou  ai't. 
Who  found'stthis  burning  jilague-spot  in  my  heart." 

"  Disguise  thyself  as  thou  wilt,  still  slavery  !  still  thou  art 
a  bitter  draught ;  and  though  thousands  in  all  ages  have  been 
made  to  drink  of  thee,  thou  art  no  less  bitter  on  that  account. 
I  began  to  figure  to  myself  the  miseries  of  confinement.  I  was 
going  to  begin  with  the  millions  of  my  fellow-creatures  born  to 
no  inheritance  but  slavery,  then  I  took  a  single  captive,  and 
having  first  shut  him  up  in  his  dungeon,  beheld  his  body  half 


252  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

wasted  away  with  long  expectations  and  confinement,  and  felt 
what  kind  of  sickness  of  heart  it  was  which  arises  from 
hope  deferred.  Upon  looking  nearer  I  saAv  him  pale  and  fever- 
ish ;  in  thirty  years  the  western  breeze  had  not  once  fanned 
his  blood,  nor  had  the  voice  of  friend  or  kinsman  breathed 
through  his  lattice  of  iron.  His  children — but  here  my  heart 
began  to  bleed  -  and  I  was  forced  to  go  on  with  another  part 
of  the  portrait.  He  lifted  up  a  hopeless  eye  towards  the  door, 
than  cast  it  down,  shook  his  head,  and  went  on  with  his  work 
of  affliction  ;  he  gave  a  deep  sigh — I  saw  the  iron  enter  into  his 
soul — I  burst  into  tears." 

I  found  the  prisoners  at  the  Seatco  prison  to  be  about  an 
average  lot  of  men — not  any  more  feloneous  on  the  average 
than  the  same  number  found  at  a  horse  race,  a  dog  fight,  or 
picked  up  promiscuously  most  anywhere.  One  of  the  guards, 
being  an  old  military  and  naval  officer,  frequently  said  that 
"  the  boys  here  would  average  well  with  those  of  the  army  or 
navy  during  the  war,"  and  a  prisoner  said,  he  "had  left  his  coat 
hanging  in  the  hall  several  months  with  several  dollars  in  the 
pocket,  and  no  one  had  stolen  it  yet."  However,  petty  thieves 
or  kleptomaniacs — as  they  are  considered  when  they  have  in- 
fluence at  court — afterwards  came  and  were  always  with  us. 

Many  of  the  prisoners  were  guilty  of  the  crimes  charged 
against  them,  and  freely  confessed  it ;  but  knowing  of  so  many 
worse  criminals  who  were  acquitted  with  just  as  strong  proof 
against  them,  and  others  who  were  not  even  molested,  that  they 
did  not  think  they  had  got  equal  justice,  and  many  of  these  in- 
tended, when  released,  to  join  one  or  more  of  the  secret  "  charit- 
able "  brotherhoods  so  that  they  too  could  commit  crimes  with 
impunity.  "  For,  while  they  (the  brethren)  never  omitted  any 
sort  of  violence,  nor  any  unjust  sort  of  punishment  against 
outsiders,  as  they  were  not  to  be  moved  by  pity,  and  are  never 
satisfied  with  any  degree  of  gain,  they  were  secret  partners 
with  the  worst  robbers.  For  a  great  many  then  fell  into  that 
practice  without  fear,  as  having  their  secret  influence  for  their 
security,  and  depending  on  them  that  they  would  save  them 
harmless  in  their  particular  robberies  and  other  crimes,  and 
would  inflict  punishment  on  their  enemies  on  the  smallest 
occasions,  and  esteem  every  man  that  endeavored  to  lead  a 


How  TO  Run  a  Refokm  Peison.  253 

virtuous  life  their  enemy,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  possession 
of  property  or  anything  desirable  to  them,  is  the  signal  for 
attack." 

Many  prisoners  also  complained  of  the  inequality  of  sen- 
tences, considering  the  cases  and  characters  of  the  men,  many 
having  the  worst  of  these,  and  old  offenders,  too,  getting  the 
lightest  sentences,  while  others  having  the  best  of  cases  and 
characters,  and  it  being  their  first  and  only  offense,  and  more 
accidental  than  intentional,  would  get  five,  ten  and  fourteen 
years. 

*'  Who  blame,  where'er  they  go  from  pole  to  pole, 
And  for  one  single  blemish  damn  the  whole." 

Other  prisoners  were  innocent  of  any  crime — they  being 
simply  plundered  and  thus  put  out  of  the  way  to  keep  them 
from  "  making  trouble  "  or  being  in  the  way  of  their  midnight 
robbers,  they  were  also  very  profitable  to  the  contractors — 
these  are  not  convicts,  they  being  kidnapped,  not  convicted,  they  are 
the  victims  of  cruel,  dastardly  persecutions. 

' '  But  oh  !  what  sorrows  rend  the  tender  heart, 

With  home  '  sweet  home  '  that  dearest,  darling  child  to  jDart." 

"But  hear  our  jjrayer — the  ruffian  sword  em^iloy  ; 
Drive  us — but  spare  your  efforts  to  decoy  ; 
Spare  to  your  victims  those  heart-rending  throes, 
Which  the  poor,  cheated  self-destroyer  knows  ! 
The  maddening  thought  that  by  your  arts  enticed, 
Our  folly  drained  the  bowl  which  you  had  spiced. 
And  closed  their  suffering  by  an  easy  death. " 

I  found  that  the  prisoners  were  not  ironed  on  account  of 
bad  conduct,  but  to  save  expense  in  guarding  to  the  contract- 
ors and  to  gratify  their  personal  love  of  cruelties  by  thus  ag- 
gravating the  prisoners'  lot.  And  this  aggravation  caused  many 
a  man  in  the  rage  of  despair  to  jump  away — more  than  it  ever 
held  from  it,  and  they  jumped  with  nothing  but  bitterness  in 
their  souls. 

"  Still  our  bosoms  ne'er  at  rest, 
Thirst  for  the  blood  that  warms  the  traitoi''s  breast 
Yet  vengeance  still  survives,  than  life  more  dear, 
Taunts  every  groan  and  prompts  the  exulting  sneer. " 


254:  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

I  was  told  how  peaceable  men  were  kept  ironed  for  weeks 
and  months  when  even  confined  to  their  beds  with  sickness, 
and  how  a  dose  was  forced  down  one  who  forthwith  died,  etc., 
as  mere  examples  of  the  kind  of  care  and  charity  accorded  the 
helpless  sick  in  their  gloom  of  black  misfortune  and  helpless 
despair.  And  they  knew  whereof  they  spoke,  and  could 
abundantly  justify  in  details  of  facts. 

"  There  is  an  inquisition  of  the  heart  more  cruel  in  its 
machinery  than  any  ever  invented  for  the  body." 

I  said  that  "  I  did  not  calculate  to  stay  there  but  a  short 
time,  as  I  was  innocent  of  any  crime,  having  only  defended  my 
life  and  home ;  and  that  I  could  show  and  prove  this  so  plainly 
that  none  could  honestly  doubt  it ;  that  /  loas  not  convicted  but 
shanghaied  ;  that  I  was  sold  and  betrayed  and  not  defended  ;  that 
besides  this  showing  I  had  some  friends  left  who  would  get  up 
a  strong  petition  to  the  Governor  for  my  restoration." 

But  it  was  prophesied  that  I  "would  find  it  a  narrow, 
crooked,  miry,  stumpy  and  rocky  road  to  liberty,  as  others 
with  good  cases  and  many  friends  had  failed  to  get  there  ;  that 
the  Governor  was  evidently  secretly  interested  with  the  con- 
tractors and  others,  in  holding  on  to  men,  because  they  could 
not  get  pardoned  as  was  usual  from  other  prisons,  or  even  get 
the  abatement  of  time  for  good  conduct  that  was  common  else- 
where, and  alivays  in  the  poiver  and  lyrovince  of  the  Governor  to 
bestoiv. 

Some  also  believed  that  the  Judges  were  likewise  interested 
against  the  prisoners'  justice,  as  they,  too,  were  willing  that  in- 
nocent men  should  suffer  at  seventy  cents  a  day  besides  their 
labor. 

That  these  suspicions  were  reasonable,  I  also  give  this 
from  the  Press : 

"Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  22,  1886. — Judge  Nott  annoxmced  to-day  in 
the  Albany  County  Court  that  he  had  been  apjDroached  by  Suj)erintendent 

,  of  the  Albany  penitentiary,  -n-ith  an  offer  of  850,  for  each  long  term 

a  prisoner  was  sent  there.     This  attempt  at  bribery  created  a  jjrofound 
sensation." 

It  is  evident  that  this  Judge  and  Superintendent  did  not 
belong  to  the  same  secret  sworn  brotherhood,  or  he  would  not 
have  dared  to  expose  the  business.     And  at  Seatco  the  prisoners 


How  TO  Run  a  Eeform  Prison.  255 

were  wortli  $300  or  $400  each  per  year  to  the  gang,  and  the 
press  of  the  territory,  being  mostly  in  the  control  of  the  same 
brethren,  was  muzzled  as  to  such  outrages,  except  to  deny 
their  existence. 

The  following  day  after  my  arrival  I  was  taken  out  to  the 
blacksmith-shop  where  the  irons  I  had  on  were  cut  off,  and  a 
pair  of  heavier  ones  substituted,  they  being  connected  with  a 
chain  long  enough  to  step  ;  reports  were  then  sent  out  that 
"this  was  done  because  I  was  such  a  bad,  desperate  man." 

' '  To  imjiress  terror  on  their  feelings  by  every  atrocious  cruelty  that 
could  deter  them  from  expressing  their  disapprobation  of  these  excesses." 

And  a  censorship  was  placed  on  the  victims'  correspond- 
ence so  as  to  bury  the  truth  and  make  this  a  secret  prison, 

I  was  then  set  to  work  in  the  cooper-shop — they  wanted 
to  make  a  cooper  of  me  so  I  would  be  a  profit  to  the  gang  of 
$2  or  $3  a  day.  It  is  evident  that  they  knew  in  advance,  in  a 
secret  way,  that  the  Governor  would  hold  on  to  me,  though 
knowing  I  was  shanghaied  and  never  convicted.  However,  I  did 
not  owe  the  devils  anything,  and  therefore  I  was  no  mechanic  ; 
finding  I  was  no  account  as  a  cooper,  I  was  given  the  job  of 
sawing  off  the  ends  of  the  staves  for  the  others  to  cooper ;  this 
was  a  good  job  for  the  place,  and  I  retained  it  as  long  as  I 
worked  in  the  shop — about  a  year. 

The  coopers  were  given  tasks,  being  about  three-quarters 
of  what  would  be  a  Journeymen's  days  work  at  $3  a  day.  But 
it  should  always  be  remembered  that  the  inquisition  of  the 
mind  that  many  prisoners  suffer  on  account  of  their  persecu- 
tions, is  enough  for  them  to  endure  without  being  compelled  to 
labor  at  all,  ivherein  they  can  have  no  possible  interest  ;  "  Doomed 
to  deal  out,  forbidden  to  enjoy."  And  then,  they  suffer  for  not 
having  the  vacations  and  recreations,  and  suitable  fare  that 
others  enjo}^ ;  therefore  prisoners  should  not  be  required  to  do 
more  than  half  a  regular  days  ivork,  unless  it  be  intended  to 
break  them  doion  and  drive  them  to  the  frenzy  of  despair  and 
set  them  against  work  the  rest  of  their  lives,  as  was  done  in  many 
cases  at  Seatco,  and  these  too,  who  had  been  industrious  workers 
all  their  lives. 

Influential   members   of   secret   charitable    brotherhoods, 


256  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

when  in  prison  for  a  time,  never  work  much,  and  tlieir  health  is 
better  than  other  prisoners^  ivho  work  hard.  There  are  other 
modes  of  exercise  besides  that  of  unpaid,  thankless  toil,  and  this 
toil  is  rarely  any  benefit  to  the  State.  It  is  stolen  hy  the  gang 
who  never  work  themselves,  and  if  they  drank  less  whiskey 
would  be  in  pretty  good  health. 

A  cooper  here  kept  an  account  of  what  he  earned  for  this 
secret  gang.  It  amounted  to  about  $3,500,  and  although  he 
had  never  been  punished — except  as  all  others  in  a  general 
way — and  never  openly  charged  with  any  misconduct,  yet  he 
could  not  get  even  the  abatement  of  time  provided  by  law. 
How  does  this  "  benefit  society  ?  " 

As  an  example  of  how  they  would  take  the  advantage  of 
one's  ignorance  and  industry  I  give  this  :  Prisoners  were  issued 
some  tobacco  each  week,  but  not  enough  for  those  much  ad- 
dicted to  its  use,  so  one  of  the  coopers  told  the  superintendent 
that  he  would  make  an  extra  barrel  each  day  for  a  week  if  he 
would  give  him  twenty-five  cents  worth  of  tobacco.  "I  will  do  it, 
byG-o-a-d,"  was  the  reply,  and  at  the  end  of  the  week  he  paid 
it,  and  then  told  the  victim  to  "just  keep  on  making  four 
barrels  a  day,  as  that  would  be  his  task  thereafter,  without  any 
extra  tobacco." 

But  for  the  reasons  heretofore  given  this  was  more  than 
he  could  do  and  do  well,  and  consequently  stood  siege  after 
siege  of  bread  and  water  punishment,  he  being  driven  to  retali- 
ate with  bad  work,  etc.,  etc.,  and  they  had  to  take  him  out  of 
the  shop  and  put  him  at  common  work  ;  and  when  his  time  had 
rightfully  expired,  he  was  kept  on  several  mouths  longer  (at 
seventy  cents  a  day  and  his  labor)  "  because  of  his  bad  con- 
duct." 

This  bread  and  water  punishment  was  to  put  a  man  into  a 
darkened  cell  without  a  bed,  and  starve  and  in  winter  freeze 
him  for  from  one  to  twenty  days  at  a  time.  There  should  never 
and  need  never  be  any  worse  punishment  for  even  real  devils 
and  the  worst  cases  in  prison.  This  ought  not  to  he  forgotten. 
This  was  supposed  to  be  the  only  punishment  at  Seatco  ;  but 
prisoners  were  tortured  there  in  various  other  ways  also. 


How  TO  KuN  A  Eeform  Prison.  257 

"  Where  o'er  lier  shambles, 

Torture  jiauts  for  breath, 

And  where  to  look,  to  think,  is  death. " 

So  grasping  were  the  contractors  that  they  would  work 
men  on  the  verge  of  the  grave.  One  being  ill  and  unable  to 
work  was  thrust  in  the  bread  and  water  cell,  as  was  frequently 
done  ;  when  let  out  he  was  insane  ;  he  lay  in  his  cell  a  few  days 
with  his  clothes  on  and  uucared  for,  when  I  helped  him  up  to  the 
hall  and  got  him  into  the  "  hospital  "  (?)  tailor  and  shoe-shop — 
luhicli  was  all  one.  He  did  not  know  anyone,  and  was  picking 
his  clothes  and  begging  for  water  ;  he  had  typhoid-pneumonia. 
While  in  the  bread  and  water  cell,  for  days  he  drank  dirty 
water  to  slake  his  burning  thirst.  He  finally,  by  a  mere  scratch, 
recovered,  but  was  unable  to  walk  without  crutches  for  a  long 
time.  He  said  that  I  had  saved  his  life.  This  was  when  an 
ex-Governor  was  the  Doctor. 

"  "We  know  the  savage  for  what  he  is,  the  same  every- 
where, the  same  ruthless,  cruel,  blood-thirsty,  treacherous  and 
tyrannical  animal,  ruling  only  by  the  strong  hand,  and  with  no 
innate  conception  of  goodness  or  virtue." 

Others  were  forced  out  to  work  when  ill,  and  soon  after- 
wards died. 

A  man  was  sick  for  over  a  year,  so  that  he  frequently 
had  to  be  assisted  to  w^alk ;  yet  he  was  kept  in  heavy  double 
irons  all  the  time.  After  the  prisoners  were  finally  taken 
away  from  the  contractors,  he  got  full  abatement  of  time  for 
"  his  uniform  good  conduct  "  in  spite  of  the  abuse  tending  to 
drive  a  victim  to  desperation. 

As  an  example  of  how  trifling  and  aggravating  these  masons 
were,  I  give  this  :  Every  one  was  expected  to  furnish  his  own 
comb  ;  but  as  one  prisoner  came  in  they  kept  his  comb.  It 
was  a  broken  piece,  but  was  all  he  had,  and  he  wanted  it ;  so 
they  trifled,  lied  and  humbugged  him  about  it  till  he  re- 
fused to  "  go  out  to  work  until  he  got  it;  "  consequently  they 
kept  him  on  bread  and  water  (a  very  little  bread)  sixty-three 
out  of  sixty-eight  days  till  he  was  almost  dead  and  could  hardly 
walk,  then  they  gave  him  the  comb,  and  he  resumed  work.  He 
was  a  pious  man  and  had  been  a  preacher. 

Another  was  treated  the  same  way  over  a  little  tobacco ; 
17 


258  A  Pilgrimage  in  Heix. 

he  finally  got  his  tobacco  aud  resumed  work — he  had  been  a 
Sheriff. 

"  Spiiits  of  fire,  that  brood  not  long, 
But  flasli  resentment  back  for  wrong, 
And  hearts  where,  slow  but  deej),  the  seeds, 
Of  vengeance  ripen  into  deeds." 

"  Know  their  rights  and  knowing  dare  maintain." 

Even  when  prisoners  are  wrong  in  such  little  things,  it 
should  always  he  considered  that  they  may  he  in  a  stress  of  mind 
that  makes  them  morally  irresponsible  for  lohat  they  may  do,  and 
are  not  really  themselves.  Only  tyrants  and  devils  will  aggravate 
and  then  torture  men  when  in  such  a  frenzied  condition. 

A  prisoner  was  keeping  a  diary  of  what  transpired  at 
Seatco,  but  the  warden  took  it  from  him  with  a  severe  warning 
to  uncover  nothing  of  their  evil  doings  if  he  valued  his  liberty. 
They  luere  midnight  men  and  they  icanted  to  make  this  a  s€C7'et 
prison. 

I  was  taken  from  the  cooper-shop  and  set  to  clearing  land 
and  farming;  the  devils  not  content  with  ravaging  the  home  I 
had  made  before,  they  wanted  me  to  build  and  work  another 
for  them  to  enjoy.  But  I  was  worn  down  and  had  also  learned 
as  much  as  an  Indian  by  this  time,  and  considered  home-build- 
ing a  humbug,  so  I  did  not  build  very  well  or  speedily.  There- 
fore they  cut  the  irons  off,  and  turned  me  loose  to  work  in  and 
have  charge  of  the  dining-room,  etc.,  and  of  the  other  prisoners 
while  at  their  meals.  I  now  ate  in  the  kitchen,  and  lived  as 
well  as  the  guards  or  anybody  on  the  ranch. 

I  could  have  run  away  from  the  prison  almost  any  day,  as 
I  was  given  no  limits,  and  could  go  fishing  between  meals  and 
my  work.  But  conscious  of  my  innocence  I  felt  that  I  must 
surely  get  out  without  running,  and  I  was  doing  all  I  could  to 
this  end,  as  will  hereafter  appear ;  and  that  the  road  was  in- 
deed "  narrow,  crooked,  mir}-,  stumpy,  rocky,"  and  ambushed 
with  mystic  devils  armed  with  poisoned  arrows  that  they  shot 
in  the  dark. 

After  being  in  the  dining-room,  etc.,  for  about  two  years,  I, 
with  others,  was  employed  by  a  sub-contractor  at  seventy-five 
cents  a  day  to  build  a  store  and  dwelling  house  by  the  rail- 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eeform  Prison.  259 

road.  One  day,  when  this  was  about  completed,  while  I  was 
burning  a  pile  of  logs  in  the  brush  some  distance  from  the 
building,  one  of  the  prisoners,  having  about  a  lifetime  sentence, 
skipped  out,  and  holding  that  I  knew  of  his  going,  and  had 
seen  him  pass  by  without  giving  an  alarm,  I  must  be  punished 
accordingly,  as  was  usual  in  such  cases  ;  though  I  had  told 
them  at  the  outset  that  "  /  would  not  guard  a  fellow-prisoner 
from  his  liberty."  So,  for  revenge,  I  was  put  in  double  irons 
again,  given  a  nine  foot  saw  to  run  alone,  and  was  to  be  con- 
sidered and  run  like  a  saw-mill  rushed  with  orders — to  make 
wood  for  the  railroad. 

Oh  !  my  countrymen,  what  a  saw-mill !  ! 

The  guard-and-chief-worthy-grand-master  was  drunk  and 
mad  ;  in  fact,  he  was  always  drunk  and  mad  ;  he  drank  a  quart 
of  bad  whiskey  every  day,  but  he  could  not  run  that  saw-mill 
to  a  profit.  So  he  drank  more  whiskey  and  died.  And  the 
escaped  prisoner  was  never  caught. 

"  He  neither  stayed  to  soothe  or  force. 
But  wisely  stole  away." 

I  was  then  transferred  to  the  tailor-shop,  where  I  slept; 
but  I  was  a  poor  tailor — then  to  the  kitchen,  but  I  was  a  very 
poor  cook.  So  not  being  fit  for  anything  else,  I  was  made 
room  warden — that  is  I  had  charge  of  the  big  hall,  and  to  a 
great  extent  over  the  conduct  of  all  the  prisoners  while  they 
were  in  it — about  one-third  of  the  daytime— which  position  I 
retained  during  the  last  several  years  at  Seatco,  and  I  do  not 
think  that  any  prisoner  thus  employed  ever  got  along  better 
with  both  prisoners  and  such  officials,  as  will  hereafter  ap- 
pear. 

However,  with  all  of  his  meanness  and  thievery  in  other 
respects,  the  warden  was  good  to  work  under — that  is  to  those 
engaged  on  the  inside.  I  do  not  know  of  his  ever  finding  any 
fault  with  any  of  my  work,  or  much  with  that  of  others, 
and  he  was  my  boss  the  most  of  the  time  I  was  in  prison ;  he 
would  frequently  tell  me  to  tell  the  guards  "  to  go  to  hell,"  etc., 
if  they  assumed  any  authority  over  me. 

This  hall  was  the  only  redeeming  feature  of  the  Seatco 
institution ;  it  gave  all  an  opportunity  to  exchange  reading 
matter,  and  to  acquaint  themselves  with  the  knowledge  and 


260  A  PlLGRI]MAGE  IN   HeLL. 


experieuces  of  the  others,  and  many  of  them  had  had  lots  of  it 
besides  their  experiences  with  lawyers  and  courts  that  give  the 
worst  characters  the  lightest  sentences,  bankrupts  and  convicts 
the  innocent,  and  charges  $900  to  settle  a  dispute  over  a  $9 
calf,  and  gives  an  outsider  against  a  midnight-man  no  justice 
at  any  price. 

Such  free  association  of  j^'^'isoners  {and  neiospapers)  should  he 
granted,  let  it  be  understood,  to  enable  them  to  keep  up  with  the 
times,  so  as  to  hold  some  ground  against  the  world  whose 
spotted  hands  are  to  be  ever  raised  against  them. 

Some  of  them  were  around-the-world  sailors  ;  one  was 
with  the  ill-fated  Polaris  and  six  mouths  on  an  ice-floe  ;  some 
had  been  through  the  war  on  either  side  and  that  with  Mexico, 
and  wore  the  scars  ;  one  was  wounded  as  was  Garfield,  and  re- 
covered without  any  fuss  or  physicians  ;  one  was  a  brother  of 
and  on  the  staff  of  a  famed  general ;  another  was  with  Walker 
in  his  expeditions  to  Mexico  and  Central  America  ;  nearly  every 
nationality  and  country  was  represented,  and  a  Mohammedan 
who  wished  himself  back  in  India,  and  there  were  Indians  of 
many  tribes. 

Many  of  the  inmates  were  ravaged  home-builders ;  then 
there  were  professional  sports  and  criminals,  who,  when  guilty, 
stood  their  imprisonment  best ;  home-builders  stood  theirs  the 
worst — they  "  wanted  to  go  home  !  "  Men  who  strike  out  in  a 
wilderness  to  carve  out  homes  with  their  own  hard  labor  are 
not  criminals,  nor  are  they  cowards  or  cringing  slaves. 

One  of  these  had  put  the  proceeds  of  two  farms  in  the 
States,  and  six  years  hard  labor  into  a  home,  and  considered 
himself  worth  $50,000,  when  the  masons  robbed  him  of  it,  and 
shanghaied  him  here  to  keep  him  from  "  making  trouble " 
about  it,  and  his  wife  and  children  had  to  work  out  for  a  living. 
He  was  advised  that  he  would  be  pardoned  (?)  if  he  would  not 
return  to  recover  his  own.  His  sentence  was  ten  years.  He 
was  held  several  years  till  the  plunder  was  secured,  and  the 
thieves  could  say,  "  Damn  you,  you  can't  proi^e  that  we  did  it," 
and  his  friends  had  delivered  up  their  property  too,  then 
he  was  granted  a  new  trial,  and  declared  to  be  "innocent 
of  any  a^ime."  And  masons  say,  "  We  have  a  good  Judi- 
ciary."     Other    victims    could   never  get    any   trial    as   tJiey 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eefohm  Prison.  261 

could  " jn-ove  that  they  did  if,"  and  thus  "make  trouble." 
So  these  had  to  suffer  prolonged  miseries  not  to  be  described 
in  their  gloom  of  black  misfortune.  Quite  a  number  of  mere 
boys  were  also  inmates  at  seventy  cents  a  day  and  their  labor, 
and  they  went  out  much  worse  than  when  they  came.  One 
had  honestly  made  and  saved  and  loaned  $200  or  $300,  which 
he  would  lose  if  not  released  a  short  time  before  his  time  ex- 
pired, and  he  begged  the  Governor  to  allow  him  to  preserve  it, 
but  the  Governor  being  his  enemy,  held  him  to  the  last  day,  and 
though  the  people  (without  any  daylight  opposition)  had 
strongly  petitioned  for  his  release  also.  But  what  do  black-leg 
officials  care  for  the  mere  will  of  the  people,  or  the  well-being 
of  outsiders. 

"  They  sneer  at  pleading  virtue's  tearful  eye — the  '  cold  sneer  which  speaks 

the  cankered  heart,' 
And  themselves  are  guilty  of  '  Crimes  which  load  the  groaning  earth  with 

shame.'" 

And  there  were  men  fifty  to  sixty,  and  even  seventy  years 
old  who  had  never  been  even  arrested  before,  and  were  inno- 
cent yet.  But  practical  masonry  in  its  greed  and  "  charity  "  (?) 
robs  the  cradle  and  the  grave. 

And  there  were  insane  men  who  were  beaten  and  kicked  ; 
one  such,  however,  was  not ;  for  he  would  have  killed  his  tor- 
menter  too  quick  and  sui  e. 

There  ranged  from  about  fifty-five  to  one  hundred  prisoners 
at  a  time,  but  several  would  come  and  go  nearly  every  month — as 
many  as  one  could  be  intimately  acquainted  with  and  their 
various  cases.  I  frequently  assisted  them  in  their  correspond- 
ence as  to  their  cases,  etc.,  and  know  whereof  I  write  as  to  the 
same. 

About  two-thirds  were  native  born.  About  twenty  per 
cent,  were  innocent.  Over  fifty  per  cent,  of  those  who  were 
guilty  were  caused  directly  or  indirectly  by  whiskey.  And 
many  who  were  innocent  had  only  dared  to  defend  them- 
selves against  whiskey. 

A  majority  of  the  prisoners  would  vote  for  prohibition  of 
whiskey. 

About  twenty  per  cent,  of  those  who  were  guilty  were 
natural  born  criminals  and  generally  calculated  to  join,  after 


262  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 


their  release,  some  secret  cliaritable  gang,  "  so  that  they  too 
•would  have  overpowering  influence  at  court,  and  could  commit 
crime  with  impunity." 

Imprisonment  will  never  reform  even  those  who  need  re- 
forming, until  the  courts  and  pi^isoji  officials  and  Governors  are 
reformed — they  being  worse  criminals  than  the  worst  they 
send  and  hold  in  prison.  It  is  amazing  that  facts  so  simple  and 
vital  should  riot  he  obvious  to  all. 

"  The  wise  may  preach,  biit  wiser  nature  shows 

That  half  our  heroes  but  from  midnight  scoundrels  rose." 

For  the  last  S3veral  years  the  big  hall  in  the  prison,  when 
all  were  in,  resembled  a  western  saloon  except  the  bar  ;  card 
playing,  with  Faro  and  other  gambling  games,  checkers,  chess, 
etc. ;  reading  and  talking,  chewing  and  smoking,  and  sometimes 
singing  and  dancing,  with  an  occasional  fight.  However,  but 
one  man  was  ever  thus  laid  up  for  repairs — this  being  done  to 
the  "  hardest  case  in  the  prison  "  by  "  the  most  peaceable  and 
meek  of  all  " — with  a  knife. 

They  did  their  own  butchering  at  Seatco,  and  so  grasping 
were  these  charitable  brethren  that  they  did  this  on  Sunday, 
and  they  frequently  used  stock  that  had  been  killed  by  the 
railroad  or  was  suffering  from  disease. 

This  prison  was  different  from  any  other  in  the  world, 
there  was  no  discipline,  or  humanity,  or  care  for  reform;  but 
rather  a  school  for  crime ;  the  officials  being  teachers  by  pre- 
cept and  example — the  Governor  being  worthy-grand-high-chief 
of  villainy.  Work  and  money  was  all  they  wanted.  They  were 
a  grasping,  vulgar,  smutty-mouthed,  profane,  card-playing, 
lying,  drunken,  brutal  outfit  of  masons. 

Every  means  was  used  to  prevent  prisoners  from  getting 
out  legitimately — the  Governor  being  a  willing  tool. 

These  official  gentlemen  would  alienate  prisoners  from 
their  friends  in  ways  that  were  dark  and  cruel,  and  the  petty 
tricks,  juggles,  frauds  and  cold-blooded  lying  one  had  to  suffer, 
was  a  burning  torment  to  the  brain.  By  preventing  them  from 
writing,  by  holding  back  and  squelching  their  letters,  by  Ij^ing 
about  their  conduct  and  their  cases.  For  example  :  A  prisoner's 
folks  had  written  to  him  in  regard  to  his  appealing  his  case  to 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eeform  Prison.  263 

the  supreme  court,  and  registered  tlie  letter ;  this  was  lield  back 
for  over  a  year  till  it  was  too  late  to  do  him  any  good.  Another, 
on  hearing  that  the  Governor  was  going  to  a  place  near  where 
his  folks  were,  wrote  to  his  wife  accordingly,  so  she  could  meet 
and  plead  his  case  to  him  ;  this  was  held  back  till  the  Governor 
had  returned. 

And  many  letters  were  never  heard  from  at  all. 

They  took  all  the  writing  material  they  could  find  from 
the  prisoners  (they  robbed  them  of  it)  and  made  it  a  rule  that 
none  should  write  more  than  one  letter  a  month. 

This  I  say  was  evidently  done  to  alienate  tJiem  from  their 
friends  and  a  helping  hand ;  as  though  friends  at  such  times 
didn't  drop  off  fast  enough  anyway,  and  also  to  prevent  victims 
of  the  gangs  from  making  their  cases  known  and  thus  "  make 
trouble "  by  exposing  their  villainy,  and  as  though  they 
could  not  squelch  and  steal  letters  fast  enough  as  it  was. 

Will  you  just  think  of  the  condition  of  men  who  were  un- 
expectedly convicted?  Their  business  and  family  matters  un- 
settled ;  and  having  been  betrayed  and  sold  by  their  attorneys, 
their  cases  not  worked  up  so  as  to  enable  them  to  properly 
present  them  to  the  deaf  and  stony-hearted,  grasping  and  high- 
priced  executive,  or  higher  court ;  and  gangs  of  robbers  left 
free-handed  and  encouraged  to  ravage  their  unprotected  homes, 
property,  and  families — from  whom  they  have  been  kidnapped 
and  torn  by  prostituting  the  courts,  and  tvith  whom  they  are 
now  to  be  cut  off  from  all  certain  commimication. 

And  then,  for  the  Governor  to  give  as  a  reason  for  holding 
them  in  such  secret  bastile,  that  "they  might  make  trouble" 
with  these  same  court-prostituting-home-ravagers  and  thieves 
— his  brethren ! 

And,  moreover,  although  there  was  a  daily  mail,  it  was 
only  delivered  once  a  week,  if  at  all,  and  they  frequently  held 
back  from  mailing  for  a  week  or  a  month  that  which  was  handed 
out  to  mail — if  they  sent  it  at  all. 

For  example  :  A  prisoner  wrote  and  handed  out  a  letter 
March  19;  not  hearing  from  it  in  a  month  he  wrote  to  the  same 
person  again  April  21,  he  paying  for  the  registering  of  each. 
It  transpired  that  they  were  mailed  together  April  20th,  thus 
holding  back  the  first  one  about  six  weeks  and  the  other  eight  days. 


264  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

Another  letter  was  written  and  handed  out  July  27,  mailed 
August  18 — held  back  twenty-two  days. 

Another  was  written  November  23,  to  a  Judge,  and  held 
back  till  December  5. 

Just  think  of  the  torment— the  inquisition  of  the  mind  of 
men  thus  treated  while  languishing  in  prison,  and  often  in  a 
dying  condition  ! 

A  man  was  held  for  a  cancer  to  gnaw  his  lip,  face  and  life 
away.  His  neighbors  petitioned  in  vain  for  his  restoration  at 
the  outset  of  the  cancer,  when  it  could  have  been  cut  out.  He 
finally  put  up  a  large  sum  of  money  to  get  out,  and  after  tor- 
turing delays  was  released  to  die  such  a  death.  He  was  an 
old  pioneer  and  a  good  citizen. 

A  man  complained  to  a  visiting  member  of  the  legislature 
that  he  had  sent  thirteen  letters  without  hearing  from  any,  and 
asked  him  to  smuggle  one  out  and  mail  it  for  him,  which 
he  willingly  did,  and  it  brought  a  reply. 

Frequently  guards,  ministers  and  other  visitors,  and  others 
intimate  with  prisoners  would  do  this.  This  ivas  real  charity  to 
the  oppressed,  and  better  than  armloads  of  tracts  and  sermons. 

Sometimes  letters  were  thrown  onto  passing  trains,  or 
dropped  on  the  road— trusting  to  tramps  and  Providence. 

A  sick  prisoner  whose  illness  the  officials  and  prison  doctor 
would  not  recognize,  wrote  to  an  eminent  physician  to  come 
and  give  him  a  thorough  examination  and  prescribe  for  him  ; 
this  they  would  not  sent.  Yet,  when  they  themselves  were 
sick — as  they  were  with  horrible  diseases — they  discarded  the 
'prison  doctors  for  others,  as  more  competent  to  treat  them. 
Letters  were  smuggled  to  wives,  brothers,  sisters,  etc.;  and  to 
judges,  ministers,  members  of  the  legislatures,  editors,  etc. 

But  it  was  difficult  to  make  even  one's  own  friends  at  a  dis- 
tance understand  the  horrible  condition  of  affairs,  and  that  the 
Governor  was  so  loyal  to  the  gang.  One  said,  that  he  could 
not  make  "  his  own  mother  comprehend  this."  And  editors, 
etc.,  being  generally  of  the  same  brotherhood,  were  therefore 
loath  to  expose  its  crimes  and  cruelties  ;  though  occasionally 
some  of  the  press  had  something  to  say  in  condemnation  of  the 
Seatco  secret  hell,  clippiugs  of  which  I  have  preserved,  as  will 


Ho"W  TO  Etjn  a  Eeform  Prison.  265 

hereafter  appear,  though  such  papers  were  generally  squelched 
from  the  prisoners. 

Of  course,  a  Governor,  ivitli  hut  the  pardoning  poiver  alone, 
can  correct  any  prison  abuse,  and  has  opportunities  to  show  the  same 
to  the  people. 

A  prisoner  undertook  to  register  his  letters ;  they  were  of 
vital  importance  and  he  wanted  them  to  go.  This  was  opposed 
on  one  false  pretext  after  another,  until  they  found  that  he 
could  get  them  out  in  some  other  way  unknown  to  them.  But 
then  they  would  frequently  delay  mailing  them,  refuse  to  give 
up  receipts,  or  squelch  the  letters  entirely,  or  the  answers  to 
them.  Anyway,  many,  answers  were  written  and  mailed  but 
not  received.  He  also  undertook  to  send  a  statement  or 
epitome  of  his  case  to  a  friend  to  publish ;  this  the  warden 
frequently  declared  he  "did  mail  and  register,"  and  he  charged 
for  it  accordingly  ;  but  he  "forgot  (?)  the  receipt,"  No  return 
receipt  came  ;  he  would  not  permit  the  matter  to  be  traced  up, 
and  the  M.  S.  S.  was  not  received.  So  he  evidently  stole  it. 
It  had  cost  the  prisoner  $5  to  get  a  copy  of  it  to  the  Executive 
office.     I  will  give  this  epitome  to  the  reader  in  due  course. 

Complaints  were  made  to  the  Governor  of  such  abuses, 
but  they  might  just  as  well  have  been  made  to  the  devil.  He 
did  not  want  the  true  cases  of  innocent  prisoners  to  he  made  hnoivn 
to  the  puhlic,  as  this  might  alleviate  their  sufferings,  compel  their 
release,  and  bring  condemnation  on  the  gang. 

It  appeared  that  the  Insane  asylum  was  also  run  by  a  gang 
of  midnight  gentry,  and  that  letters  of  the  inmates  were  treated 
in  the  same  manner  as  here.  But  one  of  the  sane  persons  they 
were  holding,  managed  to  live  to  get  her  liberty  in  some  way, 
and  by  writing  a  pamphlet  and  otherwise  agitating  the  masonic 
abuses,  got,  after  much  opposition  and  by  fighting  it  through 
personally,  the  following  law  passed  by  the  legislature. 

The  Insane  Asylum  Act. 

The  following  is  the  text  of  the  law  "to  protect  inmates  of  insane 
asylums." 

Sec.  1,  Be  it  eyiacied,  etc.,  That  henceforth  there  shall  be  no  censor- 
ship exercised  over  the  correspondence  of  the  inmates  of  insane  asylums, 
except  as  to  the  letters  to  them  directed,  but  their  other  post  office  rights 
shall  be  as  free  and  unrestrained  as  are  those  of  any  other  resident,  or 


266  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

citizen  of  our  Territory',  and  be  under  tlie  protection  of  tlie  same  postal 
laws.  And  every  inmate  shall  be  allowed  to  write  one  letter  per  week,  to 
any  person  he  or  she  may  choose.  And  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the 
superintendent  to  furnish  each  and  every  inmate  of  each  and  every  insane 
asylum,  botll  piiblic  and  private  in  the  Territory  of  Washington,  with  suit- 
able material  for  writing,  enclosing,  seaHng,  stamping  and  mailing  letters, 
sufficient  for  the  writing  of  one  four-i^age  letter  a  week,  provided  they  re- 
quest the  same,  imless  they  are  otherwise  furnished  ^\ith.  it;  and  all  these 
letters  shall  be  dropped  by  the  writers  themselves,  accompanied  by  an  at- 
tendant when  necessary,  into  a  post  office  box,  provided  by  the  Territory 
at  the  institution,  in  some  place  easily  accessible  to  all  the  patients;  and 
the  contents  of  these  boxes  shall  be  collected  at  least  as  often  as  once  in 
each  week,  by  an  authorized  post  office  agent.  And  it  is  hereby  made  the 
duty  of  the  sujierintendent  of  every  insane  asylum  in  the  Territory  of  "Wash- 
ington both  public  and  private,  to  dehver  or  cause  to  be  delivered  to  said 
person,  any  letter  or  writing  to  him  or  her  directed,  pro%'ided  the  physician 
in  charge  does  not  consider  the  contents  of  such  letter  dangerous  to  the 
mental  condition  of  the  patient. 

Sec.  2.  That  in  the  event  of  the  sudden  or  mysterious  death  of  any 
inmate  of  any  insane  asylum,  either  public  or  private,  in  the  Territory  of 
Washington,  such  fact  shall  be  reported  by  the  superintendent  thereof  to 
the  coroner  of  the  county  in  which  such  death  occurs,  or  to  the  nearest 
justice  of  the  peace  therein,  and  a  coroner's  inquest  shall  be  held  as  pro- 
vided by  law  in  other  cases.  And  in  all  asylum  investigations,  the  testimony 
of  any  person  offered  as  a  witness,  Avhether  sane  or  insane,  shall  be  com- 
petent, and  the  court  and  jury  shall  be  the  sole  judges  of  the  credibility  of 
such  testimony. 

Sec.  3.  That  any  person  refusing  or  neglecting  to  comply  with,  or 
willfully  and  knoAvingly  -Niolating  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall 
upon  conviction  thereof,  be  punished  by  imjirisonment  in  the  penitentiary 
for  a  term  not  exceeding  three  years,  or  by  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred 
dollars,  or  both  at  the  discretion  of  the  court,  and  shall  be  ineligible  to  any 
office  in  the  institution  afterward. 

If  the  coroner,  or  justice  of  the  peace,  court,  or  jury  were 
sworn  secret-brethren  to  those  who  had  poisoned  or  otherwise 
murdered  or  abused  inmates,  then  of  what  avail  would  be  sec. 
2  of  the  law,  or  sec.  1,  either  ? 

The  sane  inmate  they  had  held,  endeavored  to  have  the 
mail  addressed  to  the  inmates,  protected  in  the  same  way,  but 
the  ring  influence  was  too  strong.  When  thus  amended  this  should 
he  the  lata  as  to  all  2^fisons,  and  "  charitable"  (?)  brethren  should  be 
disqualified  for  office. 

All  reasons  and  excuses  against  such  a  law  are  flimsy  and 


How  TO  KuN  A  Reform  Prison.  2(37 

false  and  against  equal  justice.      No  hlach-leg  official  should  be 
allowed  to  touch  a  letter  addressed  to  or  by  a  prisoner. 

Remember  that  even  guilty  prisoners  are  not  worse  than 
other  men,  whose  persons  are  held  sacred  against  the  laws  they 
violate  with  impunity ! 

And  whether  they  are  or  not,  none  but  a  tyrant  and  thief 
would  deny  them  a  public  hearing,  and  let  the  feople  judge. 
And  if  such  a  law  was  universal  and  enforced,  tJiousands  of  inno- 
cent and  sane  lirisoners  w^ould  at  least  be  heard  from,  icho  have 
never  yet  had  a  hearing  and  are  languishing  in  secret  prisons  in 
the  agony  of  despair ! 

When  everybody  knows  that  the  courts  and  other  functions 
of  government,  with  a  servile  press,  are  used  as  machines  to 
shield  the  worst  and  most  dangerous  criminals,  and  to  plunder 
and  ravage  for  the  gang,  that  they  are  sinks  of  prostitution, 
rotten  with  crime  and  soaked  with  the  hearts'  blood  of  the  in- 
nocent, will  the  people  not  therefore  see  to  it,  that  these  innocent  vic- 
tims shall  at  least  have  a  hearing  ? 

Freedom  of  speech  and  correspondence  are  completely  an- 
nihilated, and  their  lives  are  in  perpetual  danger,  while  their  pre- 
carious existence  depends  upon  the  fraud  or  violence  of  every- 
thing that  approaches  them.  And  their  mental  faculties,  that 
should  aid  their  individual  and  corporal  weakness,  are  unculti- 
vated and  neglected/br  ivant  of  communication  ivith  tlieir  fellow- 
creatures. 

Do  not  he  too  much  deafened  by  the  chatter,  power  and  in- 
fluence of  the  gang,  to  hear  the  still  voice  of  personal  anguish. 
At  least  think  of  those  ivho  are  languishing  and  dying  withoid  a 
hearing,  ivhile  you  are  reading  this  ! 

Though  secret-ring  men  are  seldom  prosecuted  for  their 
crimes,  except  in  a  farcical  way,  for  a  blind,  and  to  turn  the 
people's  money  into  their  pockets,  yet,  when  one's  crime  has  be- 
come too  notorious,  and  the  people  are  watching,  in  spite  of 
them  and  their  press  to  hide  it  or  give  it  another  name,  they 
may  apparently  permit  him  to  be  punished  as  other  men. — As 
example  :  There  was  one  such,  who  got  one  year  at  Seatco 
while  another  man,  for  the  same  kind  of  offense,  but  who  was 
less  guilty,  had  four  and  a  half  years.  The  gentleman  was  turn- 
ed into  the  hall,  with  the  rest  of  us,  to  amuse  himself  for  a 


268  A  PiLGRLAIAGE  IN   HeLL. 

couple  of  days,  with  a  bottle  of  whiskey  and  his  pistol  in  his 
pockets ;  then  he  was  turned  out  to  go  about  the  country  and 
live  and  attend  to  his  business  as  he  pleased.  There  was  no 
censorship  exercised  over  his  correspondence.  He  was  an 
auctioneer  and  surveyor,  and  got  such  employment  about  the 
country  while  a  prisoner. 

The  people  living  near  the  prison  became  favorably  im- 
pressed with  many  of  the  prisoners,  who  were  frequently  en- 
gaged to  work  for  them  on  their  release  without  any  prejudice, 
and  sometimes  married  into  their  families.  One,  thus,  to  his 
eternal  shame,  became  related  to  one  of  the  prison  contractors. 
He  did  his  courting  while  a  prisoner. 

Another  example  of  a  secret  ring  man  who  had  followed  an 
unarmed  man  up  while  on  his  way  home  with  some  friends, 
and  shot  him  dead.  The  people  wanted  to  lynch  him,  but  he 
being  one  of  the  gang,  he  was  released  on  bail,  and  about  a 
year  afterwards  was  sentenced  to  two  and  a  half  years ;  but 
belonging  to  the  same  brotherhood  as  the  Governor,  he  soon 
pardoned  him  out,  while  spurning  justice  and  the  expressed 
will  of  the  people,  to  release  others  who  had  never  been  guilty 
at  all.     And  he  knew  it. 

For  years  no  minister  preached  to  the  prisoners.  I  re- 
member one  calling  in  to  visit  them  ;  the  warden  let  him  in  the 
hall  and  then  stood  in  the  door  watching  him  as  though  afraid 
he  would  steal  something,  which  so  annoyed  the  preacher  (as 
was  intended)  that  he  soon  left,  saying,  that  "  the  warden  evi- 
dently considered  him  an  intruder,  and  wanted  him  to  leave." 
Another  preacher  said  that  he  "  would  come  and  preach  to  the 
boys  if  he  could  get  his  horse  fed  and  his  dinner,  but  that  they 
would  not  thus  accommodate  him,"  so  he  did  not  come. 

Finally,  the  legislature  provided  for  two  preachers,  each  to 
visit  the  prison  once  a  month,  and  under  this  provision  we  had 
five  or  six  different  ones.  They  were  reminded  that  the  offi- 
cials and  Governor  needed  reforming  more  than  their  prisoners 
which,  after  becoming  acquainted  with  both,  they  found  out 
themselves  and  so  declared. 

Some  of  them  took  a  practical  interest  in  the  prisoners, 
and  on  learning  how  their  letters  were  stolen,  would  take  out 
letters  for  them,  and  would  also  write  letters  in  their  behalf. 


How  TO  EuN  A  Reform  Prison.  269 

One  went  to  see  the  Governor  as  to  what  was  required  to 

secure  the  release  of  one  of  the  innocent  prisoners  (Mr.  D ) 

whose  case  he  (the  preacher)  had  investigated  and  found  to  be 
so.  His  Excellency  put  him  off  with  "  Oh,  yes ;  I  have  seen 
Mr,  D ,  and  he  told  me  all  about  his  case.  I  am  consider- 
ing it,  good-day."  He  had  never  exchanged  a  single  looixl  with 
the  prisoner  about  his  case.  The  fact  was,  these  ring  Governors 
did  not  ivant  to  hioiv  of  a  prisoner's  innocence,  and  would  sneer 
at  and  close  their  ears  and  eyes  to  the  most  positive  "proof  there- 
of ;  and  the  plaintive  wails  of  their  helpless  suffering  victims 
was  as  music  to  their  little  cankered  souls.  The  Judiciary 
being  a  part  of  the  gang,  was  good  to  them  and  "  must  be  up- 
held." 

Mr.  Parker  was  the  bravest,  and  most  earnest  and  practi- 
cal of  any  minister  that  we  had,  and  we  were  all  always  so  glad 
to  see  him  come  and  visit  us  ;  he  would  condemn  the  black- 
legs as  frankly  as  did  any  prisoner,  and  he  tried  to  get  the 
warden  removed,  and  get  some  one  with  some  good  morals  in 
his  place ;  said  that  he  "  had  written  several  letters  to  the 
Governor  making  serious  charges  against  the  officials,  but  that 
he  (the  Governor)  would  not  even  answer  his  letters."  Then 
he  applied  to  the  legislature  to  reform  the  abuses,  to  which  his 
Excellency  (?)  replied  by  bouncing  Mr.  Parker.  I  believe  that 
the  Governor  was  virtually  sworn  to  shield  the  other  officials, 
as  they  belonged  to  the  same  oath-bound  society. 

No  evangelist  need,  however,  to  expect  the  confidence,  or 
even  respect,  of  prisoners  who  will  not  openly  condemn  official 
criminals,  and  advocate  justice  to  their  victims. 

Mr.  Parker  had  been  so  prejudiced  or  rather  misinformed 
as  to  these  prisoners  that  he  was  very  timid  on  his  first  visit  to 
them,  as  though  afraid  of  his  life,  and  was  accompanied  in  the 
hall  with  a  guard ;  he  stopped  near  the  door,  delivered  his 
sermon,  and  got  out  as  quick  as  one  would  from  a  den  of  lions. 
But  by  the  next  time  he  came  he  had  informed  himself  and 
came  in  alone,  and  then,  as  ever  afterwards,  went  the  length  of 
the  hall  shaking  hands  in  familiar  intercourse  and  getting 
acquainted  with  as  many  as  he  could,  and  did  his  preaching  at 
the  further  end  of  the  hall.  He  would  thus  prolong  his  visits 
declaring  that  "  the  association  of  the  prisoners  as  a  whole, 


270  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

was  mucli  mcH'e  congenial  to  him  than  that  of  the  officials  who 
would  rather  play  cards  and  talk  smut  than  to  hear  him  or  the 
others  pi  each  morality  and  justice,"  and  they  did  so  at  the 
same  time  in  an  adjoining  room.  The  other  ministers  were 
also  very  good  and  sociable  and  all  that ;  but  they  were  afraid 
to  ojjpose  and  figM  the  devil  ivhere  he  had  any  power,  and  were 
therefore  of  little  practical  use. 

There  was  a  board  of  prison  directors,  including  the  Gov- 
ernor, but  as  they  were  brother  masons  to  the  contractors, 
they  played  a  very  silly  and  cruel  farce.  Such  hoar'ds  of  breth- 
ren are  a  useless  expense  to  the  people ;  they  are  ivorse  than  useless^ 
for  they  can  screen  and  whitewash  abuses  and  blind  the  people. 

I  remember  a  picnic  party  visiting  the  prison  on  a  4th  of 
July;  their  sociability,  the  songs  they  and  the  prisoners  sang,  and 
the  kindly  feeling  they  manifested  to  them  on  seeing  and  learn- 
ing some  of  the  cruelties  practiced  here  by  secret  villainy — 
some  weeping ;  the  superintendent  growled  out  that  he 
"wished  they  would  stay  away  and '  not  be  slinging  their  snot 
around  here."  He  was  pretty  drunk,  but  drunk  or  sober,  this 
expressed  his  style  and  feeling. 

A  sick  prisoner  pleading  to  him  to  be  excused  from  work, 
using  the  names  of  the  doctor  and  Governor,  would  get  in  re- 
ply, *'  By  G-o-a-d,  /  am  the  doctor  !  /  am  the  Governor,  and  / 
am  the  lait\  too,  by  G-o-a-d !  "  And  so  he  was.  A  whole 
community  would  earnestly  petition  the  Governor  to  justly 
restore  a  prisoner  to  them,  but  in  vain,  against  the  crook  of  this 
animal's  little  finger. 

He  would  promise  prisoners  to  assist  them  in  getting  re- 
leased, and  then  evidently  oppose  it.  He  promised  one  that 
"  if  he  would  keep  quiet  and  work  faithfully  for  two  years  he 
would  then  take  hold  and  assist  him  to  get  released,''  and  poor 
Ben  believed  it.  No  man  was  more  "  quiet  "  or  worked  more 
faithfully  than  he  ;  so  when  the  two  long,  weary  years  were 
thus  worked  and  suffered  out,  he  suggested  to  the  gentleman 
that  he  make  the  promised  effort,  and  got  this  in  return, 
"  Oh  !  if  I  was  in  your  place,  Ben,  I  wouldn't  bother  the  Gov- 
ernor about  it — there  is  France !  if  he  had  not  been  so 
anxious  about  it  he  would  have  been  out  l-o-n-g  ago."  France 
had  then  been  in  about  two  and  a  half  years,  and  poor,  honest 


Sick  Prisoner. 

"You  goto  work!    for  Jam  the  Doctor,  the  Governor,  and  the  law  too!" 


(271) 


272  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

Ben  is  not  released  yet.  He  was  a  peaceable,  hard-working, 
honest  man  all  of  his  life,  is  a  cripple,  and  in  repelling  a  bad 
assault  shot  his  assailant  and  he  died.  He  was  told  that  "  if 
he  would  swear  that  his  assailant  was  reaching  behind  him  (as 
others  do)  he  would  probably  come  clear,  otherwise  they  might 
hang  him;"  he  replied  that  "they  might  hang  him  but  he 
would  not  lie,"  and  he  got  fourteen  years  in  prison  accordingly. 
This,  while  other  men  had  killed  their  man  in  cold  blood  and 
were  acquitted,  or  not  even  tried  at  all.  He  had  the  same 
sh3'ster  lawyers  that  did  me  up,  and  they  were  a  curse  to  him 
also.  They  took  all  of  his  property  except  $50,  which  one  of 
them  was  to  collect  and  send  to  him  ;  but  he  could  never  get 
even  a  reply  to  any  one  of  a  dozen  letters  ;  and  when  he  even 
begged  for  enough  to  buy  a  few  postage  stamps.  Now,  if  a 
black-leg  Governor  thought  he  would  want  to  collect  that  $50, 
he  would  hold  him  till  the  last  minute  to  keep  him  from  "  be- 
ing troublesome  "  to  a  brother  thief. 

An  inexperienced  man  is  easily  convicted  when  his  lawyers 
are  traitors,  and  they  so' often  are.  For  example  I  give  this  :  An 
old,  hard-working,  prosperous  settler  was  jerked  up  and  thrown 
into  the  grasp  of  the  "law,"  and  was  told  by  his  lawyer — "  an 
honored  member  of  the  bar"  — at  "trial"  that  he  "could  not 
be  sworn  in  his  own  behalf,"  and  was  likewise  kept  from  prov- 
ing an  alibi  ;  so  there  was  no  evidence  in  his  own  behalf,  and  he 
got  twelve  years  at  Seatco.  Just  because  two  of  the  gang 
swore  that  he  had  assaulted  one  of  them  with  a  shot  gun ; 
when,  in  fact,  he  was  at  a  place  six  miles  away  at  the  time  the 
assault  was  said  to  have  been  made  (though  there  M^as  no 
wound)  which  alibi  was  afterwards  established.  Yet  the  ring 
Governor  replied  that  "  we  have  a  good  Judiciary  which  must 
be  upheld." 

If  the  Judiciary  was  good,  it  would  not  be  run  by  black- 
leg shysters  ;  nor  would  the  testimony  of  midnight  conspirators 
be  taken  as  evidence  against  other  men  ;  nor  would  members 
of  the  gang  select  the  jury. 

"The  law  is  a  sort  of  hocus-pocus  science,  that  smiles  in 
your  face  while  it  picks  your  pocket,  and  the  glorious  uncer- 
tainty of  it  is  of  more  use  to  the  professors,  than  the  justice  of 
it." 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eeform  Prison.  273 

"And,  indeed,  the  greatest  part  of  mankind  are  so  far  from  li\ing  ac- 
cording to  the  laws,  that  they  hardly  know  them ;  btit  when  they  have 
sinned,  they  learn  from  others  that  they  have  transgressed  the  law.  Those 
also  who  are  in  the  highest  and  priuciijal  posts  of  the  Government  confess 
they  are  not  acquainted  with  those  laws,  and  are  obHged  to  take  such 
persons  for  their  assessors  in  pubHc  administrations  as  profess  to  have 
skill  in  those  laws." 

' '  If  any  Judges  take  bribes,  their  punishment  is  death.  And  he  that 
overlooks  one  that  offers  him  a  petition,  and  this  when  he  is  able  to  reUeve 
him,  he  is  a  guilty  person. — Laws  of  Moses." 

As  to  Seatco  fare  :  They  would  kill  beef  and  salt  it  down 
a  year  ahead,  using  too  much  saltpetre  ;  and  then  it  would 
often  be  spoiled.  Some  spoiled  meat  was  shown  to  the  Gov- 
ernor who  declared  "  that  it  was  good  !  "  right  in  the  face  of 
seventy-five  men  who  knew  he  lied,  and  he  knew  that  they 
knew  he  lied.  Should  the  testimony  of  such  men  be  taken  as 
evidence  in  or  out  of  court  ? 

The  cook  told  the  superintendent  that  "  the  men  would 
not  eat  that  meat.'  "  Well,"  he  replied,  "  send  it  back  again." 
"  But  suppose  they  don't  eat  it  then  ?  "  "  "Well,  by  G-o-a-d, 
you  just  send  it  hack  till  they  do  eat  it." 

They  had  plenty  of  ground,  and  plenty  of  labor  that  the 
people  paid  them  seventy  cents  a  day  for  using,  so  they  had 
plenty  of  common  vegetables ;  but  with  little  or  nothing  to 
cook  with  them  it  was  like  hog  feed,  and  old  potatoes  were 
sometimes  used  two  or  three  months  after  their  season. 

Sometimes  a  part  of  the  men  would  refuse  to  work  on  ac- 
count of  the  poor  grub,  and  consequently  go  on  bread  and 
water — which  they  would  say  was  "  about  all  they  were  getting 
anyway."  But  this  not  being  as  profitable  as  their  labor,  the 
fare  would  improve  a  little.  And  then  on  account  of  such 
"misconduct"  their  abatement  of  time  rightfully  earned,  would 
be  denied  them.  But  they  did  not  thus  lose  very  much,  for 
nobody  got  such  abatement  of  time,  ivifh  very  rare  exceptions— just 
enough  to  swear  by,  and  create  false  hopes  in  others. 

Here  is  an  example  or  two  of  "  bad  conduct  "  reports  :     A 

couple  of  boys  had  come  for  five  years ;  had  put  in  the  most  of 

the  time ;  had  never  been  punished  or  charged  with  any  bad 

conduct,  and  were  trustees — could  go  where  they  liked  so  they 

18 


274  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

did  not  ne<j;lect  their  work  ;  their  friends  got  a  good  petition  for 
their  pardon — including  the  injured  party  — and  one  of  them 
took  it  to  the  Governor.  The  Governor  tokl  him  if  he  would 
get  a  certificate  from  the  prison  superintendent  -  (alwaj's  one 
of  the  contractors) — of  their  good  conduct  there,  he  "  would  let 
them  go."  So  the  friend  proceeded  to  the  prison,  where  he 
saw  for  himself  how  the  boys  were  trusted,  etc.;  he  then  made 
his  request  to  the  superintendent  who  was  thus  forced  to  admit 
the  good  conduct  of  the  boys  ;  but  instead  of  giving  the  friend 
a  certificate  in  accordance  with  the  same,  he  promised  to 
"  forthwith  write  and  mail  it  to  the  Governor."  The  boys  not 
being  released,  the  friend  made  another  visit  to  the  Governor, 
and  there  found  their  conduct  certified  to  be  ^^  uniformly  had." 
This  everybody  thereabouts  awl  the  Governor  himself  knew  to 
be  false  ;  but  it  was  "  official  "  and  done  for  a  pretext  to  stab 
justice  and  the  expressed  ivill  of  the  people.  The  boys  were  then 
told  that  "  it  was  useless  to  bother  the  Governor  any  more  about 
it  for  he  would  not  let  them  go,"  and  he  didn't ;  though  they 
got  some  abatement  of  time  on  account  of  their  conduct  being 
"uniformly  good." 

The  friends  of  a  prisoner  who  was  working  in  the  sash 
and  door  factory,  on  applying  for  his  release,  got  from  the 
Governor,  as  a  reason  for  denying  their  petition,  "  that  he  had 
broken  some  machiner}',"  this  was  the  first  that  he  or  any  of  his 
associates  had  heard  of  any  such  thing.  It  was  false,  but  it  was 
"official,"  and  being  from  a  secret  brother,  it  was  "  lawful,"  and 
a  lie.  A  prisoner  paid  a  lawyer  $10,  and  in  various  other  ways 
tried  to  get  a  brief  of  whatever  was  on  file  at  the  executive  office 
concerning  him,  but  utterly  failed  to  get  it  done.  The  Governor 
would  squelch  petitions  and  other  documents  that  icere  favorable  to 
a  prisoner. 

Prisoners  were  promised  (by  the  officials)  certificates  of 
good  conduct  and  also  recommendations  for  pardon,  and  in 
some  c.ises  it  was  declared  that  this  "  liad  been  done"  and  yet 
the  Governor  would  declare  to  their  friends  that  "  their  con- 
duct was  bad,"  as  an  excuse  for  holding  them  against  the  sober 
second  thought  of  the  people. 

"  In  whatever  manner  go \^ernments  insensibly  grow  among 
mankind,  the    power  consists  in  the  aggregate   mass   of   the 


How  TO  Run  a  Reform  Prison.  275 

people,  though  it  is  exercised  bj  the  few  who  are  trusted  with 
it,  aud  who  wouki  cease  to  have  any  power  at  all  to  exercise,  if 
the  people  should  refuse  to  obey  and  to  enforce  their  authority. 
It  is  clear,  therefore,  that  the  Governors  were  made  for  the 
governed,  and  that  it  is  an  abuse  of  the  Institution  ivhenever  the 
happiness  of  the  governed  is  made  subservient  to  that  of  the  Gov- 
ernors" 

The  chief  officer  of  the  Bastile  being  always  interested 
against  a  prisoner's  justice,  and  considering  the  kind  of  creat- 
ures they  were  anyway,  it  was  outrageous  and  masonry  to 
allow  him  to  be  "  Governor,  Doctor,  and  the  Law,  by  G-o-a-d  !  " 

The  Governor  and  company  ivere  thus  the  most  cruel,  relent- 
less enemies  in  advance  to  a  i^risoner  ;  he  did  not  make  them  so,  re- 
member ;  they  were  already  made  so,  and  thirsting  for  his 
heart's  blood ! 

The  Governor  could  easily  know  the  true  conduct  of  any 
man  there,  if  he  cared  to  know,  and  he  generally  did  hnoiv  it  in 
spite  of  himself. 

However,  their  conduct  as  citizens  at  home,  and  justice, 
which  whole  communities  knew,  and  frequently  testified  to, 
would  interest  and  govern  him  more  if  he  was  a  good  citizen 
himself  and  an  honest  official. 

Many  of  the  guards,  from  first  to  last,  were  pretty  good 
men  and  some  were  first  class ;  but  such  did  not  often  remain 
long ;  while  the  worst  were  never  discharged  and  never  quit. 
They,  however,  sometimes  died — drinking  themselves  to  death. 
They  would  take  a  quart  bottle  of  whiskey  with  them  every 
day,  and  for  months  at  a  time  did  not  draw  a  sober  breath. 

The  "  Governor-doctor-and-law "  gentleman  finally  got 
down  also  ;  his  toes  rotting  off,  and  his  legs  were  cut  off  just 
where  he  had  riveted  heavy  irons  on  so  many  innocent  suffer- 
ing victims,  who  now  felt  that  "  Heaven  is  sometimes  just,  and 
pays  us  back  in  measures  that  we  mete." 

"  Thougli  the  mills  of  God  grind  slowly. 
Yet  they  grind  exceedingly  small ; 
Though  with  patience  he  stands  waiting, 
With  exactness  grinds  he  all." 

If  honestly  dealt  with,  half  of  the  prisoners  would  not  run 
away,  were  they  not  guarded  at  all.     I  give  an  example.     A 


276  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

guard,  who  was  always  good  to  the  boys,  while  working  a  gang 
of  eight  or  teu  in  the  woods,  fell  asleep,  and  thus  slept  till  the 
superintendent  was  seen  approaching,  when  one  of  the  men 
woke  him  up  "  for  Old  Shead  is  coming."  There  was  but  two 
in  the  gang  that  wanted  to  run  away,  but  they  would  not  do  so 
from  Lon,  but  did  afterwards  from  other  guards.  One  of  the 
superintendents  refused  to  give  men  who  were  working  hard  in 
his  hay  field  a  drink  of  buttermilk,  "  because  he  wanted  it  for 
his  hogs." 

The  secretary  of  the  prison  said  that  it  "  cost  the  con- 
tractors less  than  twenty  cents  each  per  day  to  keep  the  pris- 
oners," and  sometimes,  when  drunk,  would  say  that  he  kept 
two  sets  of  books,  one  set  being  private  and  that  "  this  was  cor- 
rect." It  was  said  also,  that  "  there  was  never  a  credit  mark 
for  any  prisoners,  but  plenty  of  black  ones." 

A  prisoner's  mother  finding  that  the  Governor  spurned 
the  judgment  and  expressed  will  of  the  people  most  interested, 
as  to  releasing  her  son,  came  and  placed  $100  in  his  hand,  and 
told  him  to  "jump  away,"  and  he  did. 

A  prisoner  loaned  to  one  of  the  contractors  over  $1,000  in 
gold  "  for  a  few  days  only,"  and  could  never  recover  it.  The 
court  gave  a  judgment  for  the  amount,  but  the  law  would  work 
no  further  against  the  secret  brother.  Many  years  afterwards, 
when  the  victim  was  finally  released,  it  was  on  condition  that 
lie  leave  and  stay  away  from  the  country,  so  as  not  to  be 
"  troublesome  "  to  the  thieves  who  had  looted  him.  And  it 
was  whispered  that  he  had  to  receipt  in  full  for  the  $2,100 
which  was  then  due  him.  He,  however,  returned  to  his  home, 
and  when  the  Governor  had  him  arrested  to  be  re-imprisoned. 
Judge  Wingard  turned  him  loose.  He  complained  of  attempts 
being  made  to  poison  him,  and  he  often  regretted  his  not  ac- 
xjepting  an  offer  to  buy  his  liberty  years  before  for  a  large  sum 
of  coin  in  bank;  but,  being  ignorant  of  the  men  he  had  to  deal 
with,  he  expected  to  get  out  on  the  merits  of  his  cause. 

From  Josejjlius.  -  "  Nor  was  there  any  sort  of  wickedness 
that  could  be  named,  but  Albinus  had  a  hand  in  it,  he  did  not 
only  steal  and  plunder  every  one's  substance,  nor  did  he  only 
burden  the  whole  nation  with  taxes,  but  he  permitted  the  re- 
lations of  such  as  were  in  prison  for  robbery  to  redeem  them 


i  J  ^  Tfs 


ca77) 


278  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

with  money,  and  nobody  remained  in  the  prisons  but  be  who 
gave  him  nothing.  The  principal  men  among  them  purchasing 
leave  of  Albinus  to  go  on  with  their  evil  practice,  while  that 
part  of  the  people  who  delighted  in  disturbances  joined  them- 
selves to  such  as  had  fellowship  with  Albinus,  and  every  one 
of  those  wicked  wretches  was  encompassed  with  his  own  baud 
of  robbers,  while  himself,  like  an  arch  robber  or  a  tyrant  made 
a  figure  among  his  company,  and  abused  his  authority  over 
those  about  him,  in  order  to  plunder  those  that  lived  quietly. 
The  effect  ol  which  was  this,  that  those  who  lost  their  goods 
were  forced  to  hold  their  peace,  when  they  had  reason  to  show 
great  indignation  at  what  they  had  suffered  ;  but  those  who  had 
escaped,  were  forced  to  flatter  him  that  deserved  to  be  pun- 
ished, out  of  the  fear  they  were  in  of  suffering  equally  with  the 
others.  Upon  the  whole,  nobody  durst  speak  their  minds,  for 
tyranny  was  generally  tolerated,  and  at  this  time  were  these 
seeds  sown  which  brought  Jerusalem  to  destruction. 

And  though  such  was  the  character  of  Albinus,  yet  did 
Gessius  Florus,  who  succeeded  him  [as  Roman  Governor — 
A.D.  66]  demonstrate  him  to  have  been  a  most  excellent  person 
upon  the  comparison,  he  omitted  no  sort  of  rapine  or  of  vexa- 
ation.  Where  the  case  was  really  pitiable,  he  was  most  bar- 
barous, and  in  things  of  the  greatest  turpitude,  he  was  most 
impudent.  Nor  could  anyone  outdo  him  in  disguising  the 
truth,  nor  could  anyone  contrive  more  subtle  ways  of  deceit 
than  he  did.  He,  indeed,  thought  it  but  a  petty  offense  to  get 
money  out  of  single  persons,  and  did  almost  publicly  proclaim 
it  all  the  country  over,  that  they  had  liberty  given  them  to 
turn  robbers,  on  this  condition  that  he  might  go  shares  with 
them  in  the  spoils  they  got." 

There  was  a  room,  20x20  feet,  in  the  gang's  bastile  that  was 
used  for  a  shoe-making  shop,  tailor-shop,  and  hospital,  except 
when  there  were  women  prisoners,  when  it  was  occupied  by 
them ;  the  tailor  and  shoemaker  going  up  to  the  unfinished 
garret,  and  the  sick — well,  nobody  was  supposed  to  be  sick. 
An  invalid  lay  on  his  back  on  a  table  in  the  big  hall  for  seven 
or  eight  months  with  a  hip  disease,  and  the  sick,  when  able, 
frequently  bought  their  own  medicine.     This  hall  was  as  much 


How  TO  liuN  A  Eeform  Peison.  279 

"  the  hospital  "  as  was  the  tailor  and  shoe  shop — and  there  was 
no  other. 

However,  one  woman  prisoner  occupied  a  shanty  in  the 
yard  for  two  and  a  half  years.  This  was  an  Indian  woman, 
who,  being  jealous  of  her  husband,  a  white  man,  at  a  dance 
waylaid  and  shot  him  dead  while  he  was  returning  home  ;  and 
he  not  being  a  secret  brotherhood  man,  it  was  not  considered 
much  of  a  crime  to  thus  kill  him.  She  was  also  allowed  to 
bring  her  three  children  with  her,  the  gang  getting  sixty 
cents  each  per  day  for  them,  besides  the  seventy  cents  for 
their  mother. 

One  of  the  contractors  was  married  to  an  Indian  woman — 
does  any  one  suppose  that  had  she  killed  him  in  a  like  manner 
she  would  have  got  off  so  light  ? 

An  Indian  boy  was  sick  with  a  scrofula  disease,  and  begged 
and  cried  to  be  let  "  go  home  to  his  mother,"  who,  he  was 
"  sure,  ivould  cure  him,^'  and  other  Indians  declared  that  "  just 
such  cases  were  cured  by  them."  But  he  begged  and  cried  in 
vain ;  he  being  held  to  die  by  inches  without  suitable  food  or 
care  and  crying  to  "  go  home  !  "  His  chum,  who  had  come 
with  him,  wanted  to  wheel  him  to  the  station  and  see  him 
home  ;  their  time  by  this  time  having  nearly  expired— hnt  the 
last  drop  of  blood  must  be  wrung  out. 

They  were  convicted  of  stealing  a  little  grub  from  a  wood- 
man's cabin— while  white  men  who  loot  whole  ranches  are  run 
for  office.  This  is  but  a  sample  case  where  hapless  prisoners 
were  thus  held  on  to,  to  miserably  die  by  inches  ;  when  an  un- 
tamed cannibal  would  have  let  them  go  home  and  be  cured. 
The  treatment  of  this  boy  drove  his  Indian  chum  to  despera- 
tion ;  though  having  but  a  few  days  to  stay,  he  jumped  the 
place,  procured  a  gun,  and  declared  for  vengeance  — though 
having  been  peaceably  disposed  always  before. 

' '  Dreddful  it  loas  to  see  the  ghastly  stare. 
The  stony  look  of  horror  and  despair. 
Which  sovie  of  these  expiring  victims  cast. 
Upon  their  soul's  tormentor  to  the  last. 

Upon  that  mocking  fiend,  whose  veil  now  raised. 

Showed  them  as  in  death's  agony  they  gazed. — Moore" 

A  white  woman,  with  a  large  family  of  small  children,  told 


280  A  PiLCiUIMAGE   IN   HeLL. 

her  boy  to  defend  their  home  which  they  had  dug  out  of  the 
woods,  against  a  secret  ring  jumper  who  was  then  tearing 
down  their  fence,  and  the  boy  did  so  effectually  as  to  him ;  there- 
fore the  mother  was  sent  to  Seatco  for  five  years,  and  with 
never  a  child  to  comfort  licr.  Her  aggravated  agony  and  heart- 
rending moanings  for  her  little  children,  left  in  sore  distress, 
as  she  walked  the  floor  night  and  day  in  a  frenzy  of  grief  and 
despair,  would  make  any  honest  man  curse  the  court  that 
desolates,  loots  and  murders  honest,  hard  earned  homes,  in- 
stead of  at  least  lending  a  hand — without  eating  up  the  place — 
for  their  protection. 

One  morning,  this  virtuous,  home-loving  mother  of  a  large 
family  of  helpless  children,  was  found  hanging  to  a  post  in  her 
cell,  dead.     Did  she  do  it  ?  or  was  she  horribly  murdered  ? 

An  executive  or  other  prison  official,  who  spurns  every 
crumb  of  justice  or  of  charity,  and  even  decent  usage,  to  one  of 
these  luckless  looted  victims — whose  shrieks  of  torture  is  to 
them  the  essence  of  delight — should  be  made  to  suffer  in  kind. 

I  was  present  when  the  Governor' s  attention  was  called  to 
this  event  and  the  friendly  post— he  manifested  no  more  feel- 
ing than  had  the  victim  been  a  rat. 

Another  woman,  to  repel  an  indecent  assault,  threw  a 
lamp  at  her  assailant,  and  he  died.  This  was  also  made  a 
crime  and  she  was  sent  to  the  bastile  with  promises  of  a  speedy 
release — as  is  so  common  ivith  the  deceivers.  She  soon  found 
these  promises  to  be  a  delusion  and  lie,  and  after  an  illness 
died.  It  was  the  prison  talk  that  for  months  she  did  not  go  to 
bed  at  night  on  account  of  fear ;  and  that  during  her  illness 
one  of  the  ofiicials  gave  her  frequent  doses  of  medicine.  She 
had  no  female  attendant,  indeed,  none  had. 

There  were  several  different  doctors  at  different  times,  but 
they  hardly  ever  exercised  any  authority.  One,  however,  told 
a  prisoner  with  much  feeling,  that  he  was  getting  the  heart 
disease  from  his  troubles  and  sufferings,  and  to  "  just  look  out 
and  care  for  himself,  for  nobody  else  would,  and  called  hira  back 
when  he  had  been  called  out  to  work,  telling  him  not  to  work,  ex- 
cept as  he  felt  able  if  he  valued  his  life  !  "  This  doctor,  however, 
soon  got  bounced,  but  the  sick  prisoner  was  held  on  to  with  a 
vicious,  craving  desire  to  wring  out  and  lap  his  heart's  blood. 


How  TO  Run  a  Eeform  Prison.  281 

After  a  long  time  a  few  newspapers  were  got  to  condemn 
the  cruelties  at  Seatco  (Seatco  is  Indian  for  "the  devil's 
home  ").  One  paper  {Seattle  Chronicle)  demanded  a  change,  or 
it  would  expose  the  whole  brutal  swindle.  This  had  a  good 
effect,  so  that  even  the  Governor  recommended  that  the  legisla- 
ture buy  movable  irons  and  do  away  with  the  others,  and  it 
authorized  him  to  do  ^o  forthwith.  Yet  it  was  ahovii  a  year 
before  he  got  them,  and  two  and  a  half  years  before  the  others 
were  done  away  with,  which  displayed  how  earnest  he  was  to 
lessen  the  misery  of  better  men. 

Those  permanent  irons  broke  down  many  a  good  man,  and 
caused  more  to  jump  away  than  they  kept  from  it.  Some, 
while  striking  for  their  liberty,  were  shot.  One  was  shot 
through  the  heart,  it  was  said,  after  he  had  stopped,  turned 
round,  and  thrown  up  his  hands  ;  and  another  was  shot  after 
he  had  surrendered.  Even  guards  would  frequently  say  that 
they  "  did  not  blame  men  from  jumping  away  from  such  a 
hell." 

When  the  legislature  convened,  it  would  send  out  a  com- 
mittee to  investigate  matters;  but,  as  they  were  brother  masons, 
they  did  little  or  nothing  against  the  gang.  The  prisoners 
represented  and  complained  that  the  warden  should  be  an  in- 
dependent and  responsible  moral  man;  appointed  and  paid  by  the 
Territory,  to  stand  between  the  rights  of  the  prisoners  and  the 
Territory,  and  the  cruel  greed  of  contractors,  instead  of  being 
as  he  then  was,  one  of  their  servile  hands.  This  they  agreed 
to,  and  the  legislature  appropriated  $600  a  year  to  pay  such  a 
warden,  but  they  left  it  to  the  Governor  to  appoint  the  man, 
which  his  excellency  (?)  did,  in  the  person  of  the  very  same  servile 
hand  the  contractors  then  had  employed,  thus  simply  making  them  a 
present  of  $600  a  year  of  the  people's  money,  and  doing  the 
prisoners  no  good. 

At  one  session  of  the  legislature,  the  members  came  out  in 
a  body,  and  in  freely  mingling  and  conversing  with  the  prison- 
ers in  the  hall,  were  quite  fully  informed  as  to  the  abuses  they 
suffered.  One  prisoner  addressed  them  at  length,  showing  up 
the  cruelties  and  corruptions  in  an  able  and  interesting  man- 
ner, and  with  plenty  of  proof  at  hand  to  establish,  beyond  dis- 
pute, every  charge.     The  chief  contractor  was  called  in  to  face 


282  A  PiLGRiaiAGE  IN  Hell. 


and  refute,  if  he  could,  charges,  that  if  true,  should  have  hung 
the  whole  gang.  And  he  did  not  even  deny  a  single  accusation.  It 
was  also  shown  that  the  Governor's  message  was  false  as  to 
the  prison.  For  example  :  That  he  had  credited  the  con- 
tractors with  keeping  six  more  prisoners  than  were  there,  and 
that  the  people  were  deceived  and  robbed  in  various  other 
waj's  also,  as  will  hereafter  appear. 

If  there  was  a  single  member  of  that  body  who  was  not 
convinced  that  this  was  a  most  brutal  swindle  of  a  prison,  he 
did  not  manifest  it  there,  or  encourage  further  })roof,  while  they 
mostly  freely  condemned  it  as  such  a  hell.  And  some  of  them 
earnestly  requested  Mr.  Strong's  speech  to  use  openly  in  the 
legislature  and  to  have  it  published  also,  and  he  gave  it  to 
them  accordingly. 

One  of  the  contractors,  declining  to  face  the  flaming 
charges  against  him,  and  who,  like  the  rest,  was  opposed  to 
giving  a  victim  a  hearing  anyway,  slipped  up  into  the  garret, 
and  with  his  ear  to  the  floor,  listened  insidiously  to  the  j^risou- 
er's  great  speech,  which  he  had  written  on  brown  paper— the 
only  kind  he  could  procure. 

I  asked  a  couple  of  members,  who  sat  by  me  during  its  de- 
livery, as  I  did  others  also,  whether  they  "believed  those 
charges  to  be  true  ?  "  And  they  rej^lied  that  they  "  believed 
everv  one  of  them,  for— they  said— they  were  evidently  true 
by  the  proof  they  heard  and  saw  for  themselves,  and  that  men 
in  such  a  situation  should  be  considered  more  trustworthy  when 
testifying  against  officials  over  them  than  others  not  in  duress,"  and 
that  "  besides,  if  any  charges  were  not  true,  this  loas  the  time  and 
place  to  refute  it,  but  which  tvas  not  attempted.'' 

They  also  pledged  themselves  earnestly  (as  we  thought)  to 
do  all  they  could  to  rectify  the  abuses,  and  end  the  fraudulent 
contract. 

"  Then,"  I  said,  "  you  do  not  believe  the  Governor  ? ''  "  No," 
one  said,  "  and  I  never  did."  They  also  said  that  Mr.  Strong 
should  be  protected  from  punishment  "  for  so  bravely  exposing 
the  cruelties  and  corruptions  and  pleading  for  right  and 
justice."  Some  appeared  to  be  horrified  and  infuriated  at  these 
teachers  of  crime,  these  human  serpents,  who,  when  challenged 
to  meet  the  charges  against  them  of  heinous  crime,  had  crawled 


His  Penalty  foe  Making  a  Speech. 

Exposing  the  tortures  ol  the  secret  Bastlle. 


284  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 


out  of  sight,  to  strike  their  victims  in  the  dark  with  secret 
poiver  andohligafion.  And  many  of  the  members  made  a  second 
visit,  and  left  apparently  more  confirmed  and  determined  to  break 
up  the  brutal  swindle. 

Yet  when  the  legislature  liad  adjourned,  the  contractors 
had  got  an  extension  of  ttvo  years,  and  Mr.  Strong's  speech — 
which  contained  more  vital  information  to  the  people  than  all 
the  messages  and  other  writings  of  all  the  Governors  of  the 
Territory,  before,  at  the  time,  or  since — had  been  sqiielched.  Nor 
had  he  been  protected  from  abuse  for  his  earnest  honesty,  and 
was  therefore  punished  by  pulling  out  nine  of  his  teeth,  and 
in  various  other  ways  also— this  was  hitting  virtue  with  a  club. 

And  when  the  people  had  petitioned  very  strongly,  and 
without  any  open  opposition,  for  his  restoration,  it  was  denied 
by  the  Governor  on  the  ground,  that  "he  had  thus  caused  the 
contractors  much  trouble."  "  Then,"  replied  his  very  aged 
mother  who  had  come  from  the  States,  to  work  for  his  liberty, 
"  he  has  been  driven  to  it  by  abuse  !  for  I  have  successfully 
raised  a  large  family  of  boys  and  girls,  and  this  one  has  will- 
ingly given  me  less  trouble  than  any  of  the  rest." 

Such  is  the  practical  workings  of  Masonry  and  its  like, 
which  sets  good  men  to  studying  the  philosophy  of  anarchy 
and  of  socialism,  if  the  gang  cannot  be  killed ;  there  being  no 
security  for  liberty,  for  property,  or  for  Ife,  as  it  is. 

' '  While  every  tear  his  [looted]  children  shed 

Fell  on  his  soul  like  drops  of  flame  : 

And  as  a  lover  hails  the  dawn 

Of  a  first  smile,  so  welcomed  he 

The  sparkle  of  the  first  sword  drawn 

For  vengeance  and  for  Hberty. " — Moore. 

This  legislature,  and  the  succeeding  one,  however,  provided 
for  the  building  of  a  territorial  prison  at  Walla  "Walla  ;  but  in- 
stead of  utilizing  the  labor  of  the  prisoners  in  its  construction, 
which  was  entirely  practicable,  they  were  left  with  the  con- 
tractors, at  70  cents  a  day,  till  it  was  slowly  built.  And  even 
then  the  Governor  and  contractors  would  hardly  permit  their 
removal,  notwithstanding  that  it  had  been  provided  for  by  the 
legislature,  and  would  be  a  large  daily  saving  to  the  territory 
and  a  measure  of  justice  to  the  prisoners. 


How  TO  KuN  A  Reform  Prison.  285 


Indeed,  the  gang  thus  held  on  to  them  for  the  money  there 
was  in  it,  in  direct  violation  of  the  law,  till  the  Governor  was 
compdled  by  the  people  of  Walla  Walla  and  the  notoriety  of  the 
swindle,  to  let  them  go. 

The  legislature  had  appropriated  $50,000  for  the  main- 
tainance  of  the  prisoners,  wherever  they  might  be,  and  $1,000 
for  their  removal  to  the  new  prison  "  whenever  it  was  suitable 
for  occupancy."  Yet,  the  gang  could  get  blackleg  shysters  to 
declare,  that  "  while  it  was  legal  to  pay  70  cents  each  and  their 
labor  per  day  to  such  a  gang,  it  was  illegal  to  pay  out  25  cents 
each  per  day  direct  for  their  maintainance,  and  retain  the  labor 
besides."  They  practically  held,  that  '^no  money  should  he  jki id 
out  of  the  treasury  unless  65  per  cent,  should  be  clear  to  the 
GANG."  The  Walla  Walla  brethren  were  willing  to  take  a  less 
per  cent.,  which  did  not  please  the  Governor;  but  by  their  ad- 
vancing the  means  necessary  to  maintain  the  prisoners — thus 
leaving  the  Governor  without  his  flimsy  pretext  — he  finally  and 
reluctantly  complied  with  the  law  to  remove  them. 

An  eminent  Mason  came  to  see  a  man  who  had  been  robbed 
and  shanghaied  here,  telling  him  that  he  would  get  him  releas- 
ed for  what  money  he  had  left;  he  accepted  the  proposition 
but  on  the  positive  condition,  that  the  former  was  not  to  get  any 
money  until  his  release  was  secured.  This  was  the  distinct 
agreement  in  the  presence  of  the  superintendent.  The  gentle- 
man wrote  an  order,  supposed  and  said  to  be  in  accordance 
with  the  agreement,  and  in  the  excitement,  flurry,  stress  and 
hurry  —  made  for  the  j^urpose — the  victim  was  got  to  sign  the 
paper,  without  knowing  anything  to  the  contrary.  The  "Hon. 
leading-light-in-the-profession-and-head-of-the-bar "  forthwitl : 
struck  out  and  got  the  money,  kept  it,  and  dropped  his  victim, 
who  went  crazy  immediately.  This  victim  was  undoubtedly  in- 
nocent of  any  crime,  and  this  case  is  given  as  a  mere  specimen,  of 
others. 

"What  mighty  mischief  glads  him  now, 
Who  never  smiles  but  to  destroy." 

Months  afterwards  the  eminent  gentleman  of  the  "  bar  " 
died,  and  though  he  was  a  notorious  thief  for  twenty  years,  yet 
the  ring  papers  were  filled  with  glowing  eulogies  of  the  depart- 
ed brother,  but  had  never  a  word  to  say  for  his  hundreds  of 


OF  Tnp 


286  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

suffering  victims  But  of  the  brutal,  grasping,  cowardly  thief 
they  said,  that  "  he  was  bright,  shrewd  and  ambitious,  stood  at 
the  head  of  the  bar,  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  legislature, 
nominated  for  delegate  to  Congress,  he  invested  [what  he  stole] 
in  real  estate,  and,  in  the  constant  rise,  made  money  fast.  He 
built  two  of  the  most  elegant  residences  on  the  Sound ....  the 
])eople  of  Pierce  county  have  lost  their  most  able  advocate, 
most  loyal  citizen  and  best  friend." 

Now,  is  this  "  charity,"  or  is  it  an  outrage  on  justice,  to 
make  cowardly  pillage  respectable  and  aggravate  the  wounds  of 
his  bleeding,  dying  victims  ? 

It  was  the  prison  talk  that  it  took  money  to  get  a  pardon. 
And  as  men  with  the  worst  cases  and  characters,  and  with 
slight,  if  any,  petitions,  were  pardoned,  w^hile  others  whose  in- 
nocence, good,  character  and  conduct  were  known  to  all  who 
cared  to  know,  and  with  very  strong  petitions  withal,  were  left 
to  languish  ;  this  talk  therefore  was  but  reasonable.  And  some 
whispered  how  much  their  release  would  cost.  For  example — 
that  his  "was  bargained  for  $1000."  (And  he  w^ent,  too,  though 
he  had  plead  guilty  to  highway  robbery,  was  an  old  offender, 
had  run  away  and  been  extradited  from  British  Columbia  and 
made  a  second  attempt,  and  had  served  but  a  fifth  of  his  sen- 
tence.) 

Another  said  that  his  pardon  would  cost  his  folks  about 
$700,  (and  he  went  also,  having  served  but  a  small  portion  of 
his  time.) 

The  ring  papers  said,  that  a  "numerously  signed  petition 
did  the  business."  When  the  truth  was,  the  Governor  would 
scarcely  look  at  a  "numerously  signed  petition." 

For  example. — A  "numerously  signed  petition"  was  sent  in 
to  the  Governor  for  the  release  of  a  prisoner  who  was  guilty  of 
no  crime  ;  he  said  that  "  as  others  had  become  impatient  and 
begged  and  urged  the  Governor  to  act  on  their  petitions  with- 
out avail,  lie  would  let  him  take  his  own  time  and  way  without 
pressing  him,  and  see  if  he  would  not  be  more  successful."  So 
he  and  his  family  waited  and  suffered,  as  patiently  as  they 
could,  for  six  long,  miserable,  anxious  months  ;  and  then,  the 
Governor  being  at  the  bastile,  he  mentioned  the  matter  to  him, 
who  finally  remembered  that  there  was  a  petition  in  his  office 


How  TO  KuN  A  Reform  Prison.  287 

in  this  prisoner's  behalf,  "but,"  said  his  excellency,  " I  have  not 
looked  at  it  ijcf." 

But  he  declared  that  he  would  "  look  at  it "  as  soon  as  he 
returned.  Whether  he  ever  did  or  not  "  look  at  it "  made  no 
difference,  for  the  victim  served  out  his  five  years. 

I  have  lately  talked  with  an  old  neighbor  of  this  victim 
and  he  declares  that  "everybody  "  knows,  and  did  at  the  time, 
that  it  was  a  put-up  job  against  him  by  an  enemy  for  unjust  re- 
venge and  plunder  ;  and  he  had  relied  on  one  of  the  blackleg 
shysters  that  sold  and  betrayed  me. 

In  such  cases  the  judge  and  jury  may  know  little  or  nothing 
about  a  man's  real  case,  even  if  they  are  not  fixed  against  him. 
It  is  only  necessary  to  fix  his  lawyer,  ivhich  is  a  very  common 
thing  to  do.  Surely,  such  devilish  treason  shoidd  he  killed  otd  on 
sight  f  In  this  case  the  victim  believed  that  he  hiew,  that  he 
was  thus  sold  for  $150  ;  and  there  are  brethren  in  the  gang,  who 
have  cried  up  this  traitorous  thief  for  a  judge  in  "  our  good 
Judiciary." 

One  of  my  jurymen  said  that  he  learned  more  of  my  real 
case  a  day  or  two  after  the  so-called  trial,  than  he  did  at  that 
corrupt  performance,  and  that  "now  all  he  blamed  me  for  was 
that  I  did  not  kill  the  devil  sooner  than  I  did ;"  and  which  is 
the  general  sentiment  of  my  neighbors.  Another  juryman  said, 
that  "a  majority  of  the  jury  were  fixed  against  me  anyway." 

Therefore,  in  such  cases  as  these,  a  Governor  who  rejects 
and  spits  upon  the  earnest  prayers  of  good  citizens  who  are 
uncorrupted  and  who  do  know  the  real  case,  and  who  further — 
with  a  grin—  spits  in  the  face  of  the  victim,  "  we  have  a  good 
Judiciary,"  is  a  damned,  perjured,  cowardly  thief,  a  cringing 
tool  of  the  gang,  and  a  traitor  to  his  country. 

The  intent  of  the  pardoning  power,  the  world  over,  is  to 
correct  any  miscarriage  or  perversion  or  prostitution  of  the 
courts  and  of  justice,  and  protect  the  defenceless.  It  is  not 
intended  to  be  a  mere  personal  privilege  to  trade  on  in  the 
dark ;  but  is  a  sworn  public  trust,  above  and  independent  of 
the  courts  and  their  machinery  and  blackleg  "bar."  And  a  Gov- 
ernor is  just  as  much  sivorn  to  attend  to  and  exercise  this  oath- 
bound  trust,  and  to  do  so  honestly,  as  that  of  any  other 
function  of  his  office.     Indeed,  it  is  the  most  vital  and  importnvf 


288  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

clmrcje  of  the  office.     And  what  a  villain  one  must  be  to  squelch 
and  prostitute  it ! 

When  a  victim  is  gagged  and  railroaded  through  a  court 
in  charge  of  black  leg  shysters,  who  have  betrayed  and  sold 

him,  WHERE !  OH,  WHERE  !  IS  HIS  RECOURSE  ? 

A  sane  man  was  shanghaied  to  the  insane  asylum,  to  rob 
him  of  his  property  {quite  a  common  thing).  A  friend  set  to 
work  and  got  him  out,  and  was  exposing  the  job  when  he 
was  made  a  victim  of  a  put-up  job  and  shanghaied  to  the 
Seatco  Bastile.  He  was  informed  that  he  would  be  released  if 
he  would  agree  to  cease  from  "  making  such  trouble." 

Another  sane  man  was  charged  about  $2,000  by  court 
lawyers  for  defending  him  against  one  of  these  jobs.  He  had 
valuable  property  that  the  gang  wanted,  and  he  declared  that 
a  man — who  was  afterwards  made  Governor — and  "  other 
masons  "  were  in  a  conspiracy  to  rob  him  of  it.  His  insanity 
consisted  only  in  "  getting  on  to  the  gang,"  and  thus  defeating 
the  job.  So  they  made  several  attempts  to  put  him  out  of  the 
way.  But  the  people  of  Seattle  would  wake  up  and  get  mad 
when  these  job  trials  were  being  waged  against  him  ;  conse- 
quently the  "  good  judiciary  "  would  weaken  and  let  him  off, 
except  that  he  must  pay  the  shysters  $2,000  per  job,  and  the 
people  of  the  county  also  paid  about  the  same  amount  in 
court  expenses  to  the  brethren. 

During  one  of  these  jobs  a  brother  (who  was  a  minister  in 
the  States)  had  to  come  out  and  help  protect  this  victim 
against  the  "  good  judiciary."  He  was  willing  to  defend  him- 
self and  his  property  against  the  masons,  and  armed  himself 
accordingly.  But  secret  thieves  being  cowards,  forced  him 
into  the  good-to-them-judiciary,  where  they  could  rob  him  at 
the  exjjense  of  the  ijeople  and  ivithout  danger  to  themselves. 

A  mason  plead  guilty  to  grand  larceny,  forgery  and  rob- 
bery, and  was  indicted  on  several  other  charges  also  ;  the 
extent  of  which  in  the  aggregate  amounted  to  ffty -three  years 
in  the  penitentiary,  and  was  sentenced  to  Seatco  for  two  years. 
And,  moreover,  he  was  secretly  pardoned  before  he  arrived  at 
the  i^rison.  The  brotherly  press  stated  that  he  "  was  serving 
out  his  time"  there,  and  while  the  press  was  lying /or  the 


How  TO  KuN  A  Reform  Prison.  289 

guilty  brother,  it  was  also  lying  against  good  citizens  who  were 
left  to  languish  unheard  and  undefended. 

Two  other  old  offenders  were  convicted  of  an  attempt  to 
wreck  a  passenger  train.  They  got  two  and  two  and  a  half 
years,  and  were  soon  pardoned  out.  One  of  them  was  con- 
victed twice  afterward,  and  was  soon  pardoned  each  time ;  his 
father  was  a  mason. 

Another  who  had  been  arrested  nineteen  (19)  times  for 
grand  larceny,  and  had  stolen  stock,  by  his  word,  "  ever  since 
he  was  big  enough  to  ride  a  horse,"  got  two  years  and  was 
pardoned  ;  was  convicted  again  and  again  pardoned — his  father 
was  a  mason. 

Another  old  offender  plead  guilty  to  horse-stealing,  got 
one  year  and  was  pardoned  before  coming  to  the  prison — his 
father  was  a  mason. 

A  ring  official  plead  guilty  to  embezzlement,  and  was 
pardoned  before  he  saw  the  prison — he  being  a  mason. 

Indeed,  the  masons  and  odd-fellows  have  plundered  the 
treasuries  of  many  of  the  counties  of  the  territory  with  immunity 
— the  judiciary  being  very  good  to  them. 

Meanwhile,  others  of  them  were  murdering  people  in  cold 
blood,  and  committing  all  manner  of  other  crimes,  but  the 
judiciary  and  ring  press  being  "  good  "  to  them  they  went  un- 
punished. 

As  example  in  point — in  brief  from  the  press. 

"MuEDEK  Most  Fotjl." 

[Blan1c\  slays  his  brewer  Adam  G ■.      Two  pistol  shots.      The  murderer 

in  custody. 

"Going  into  the  brewery  yard  we  found  Adam  G lying  on  his 

back  ;  the  blood  was  streaming  from  a  pistol  wound  between  the  shoulders  ; 
and  the  right  eye  had  been  pierced  with  another  bullet.  The  assistant 
brewer  said,  "I  heard  two  pistol  shots,  and  ran  up  and  found  [Blatik]  had 
shot  his  head  brewer. " 

"Adam  G threatened  to  attack  and  sue  [Blank]  if  he  would  not 

pay  him  the  ^50  due  him  ;  Adam  G quit  a  week  ago." 

The  Sheriff  proceeded  to  [Blanks]  residence  accompanied  by  the 
editor.  As  they  reached  the  portico  [Blank]  was  sitting  in  a  chair,  and 
extended  his  hand  to  the  editor  and  greeted  him  with  the  usual  salutation, 
"  Hello  !  how  is  de  round-up." 

Soon  after  the  sheriff  took  [Blank]  to  the  hotel.  The  dying  man  was 
19 


290  A  Pilgrimage  in    Hell. 

■unconscious  from  tlie  first  and  died  soon  after.  His  appearance  as  he  lay 
there  ^\•ith  wet  socks  and  drawers  wluch  he  had  just  washed,  and  still 
clutched  in  his  hand,  showed  plainly  that  he  was  not  in  a  hostile  attitude 
when  slain  [and  he  Avas  unarmed]. 

We  suppose  that  the  hope  of  [Blank]  is  the  plea  of  craziness,  but  his 
only  craziness  was  long  jjrotracted  drinking.  "He  has  recently  been  very 
abusive  to  his  f  amUy,  and  drove  his  son  away,  threatening  to  kill  him  if 
he  returned."  "The  probate  Judge  refused  the  murderer  bail,  and  he 
Avas  committed  to  the  care  of  the  sheriff. "  But  he  is  virtually  at  large 
without  bail.  The  people  are  talking  very  wicked  about  this  thing.  They 
fad  to  see  why  a  man  who  sells  a  drink  of  liquor  to  an  Indian  should  be 
incarcerated  in  a  cell,  and  one  who  slays  his  fellow-man  should  be  allowed 
his  liberty. 

Considering  the  popular  feeling  in  this  case,  it  would  be  best,  even  as 
a  matter  of  policy,  and  regardless  of  duty  of  officers  to  enforce  the  law, 
or  else  worse  may  come.  Later.  "  Judge  [Blank]  has  granted  Blank  bail 
on  the  showing  of  his  attorneys  that  he  is  sick,  -with  the  sheriff  to  approve 
of  his  bonds." 

A  CARD.  To  the  Public. — Recently,  while  on  a  A-isit  to  town,  I  got  into 
an  argument  on  the  merits  and  demerits  of  the  [Blank]  case,  and  freely 
asserted  that  if  Blank  received  an  honest  trial  he  would  probably  pay  the 
penalty  of  life.  A  short  time  afterwards  I  received  a  card  addressed  : 
Charles  Wendler,  North  Yakima,  W.  T.,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  A.  R  and  A.  M. 

With  the  following  in  hand- writing  evidently  disguised  : 

"  We  have  you  spotted,  keep  quiet,  danger  ahead,  0008  A.  F.  and  A.  31." 
"With  regard  to  this  I  will  simply  say  that  I  have  expressed  my 
honest  opinion  like  a  free  man,  and  that  I  cannot  be  bull-dozed  by  any 
anonymous  and  threatening  cards,  and  if  the  writer  becomes  known  to  me 
I  will  prosecute  him  to  the  extent  of  the  law.     Respectfully, 

Chakles  WeNDIjER." 

It  is  evident  that  IVIr.  Wendler  did  not  know  that  the 
"good  judiciary  "  is  made  up  from  these  gangs,  or  he  would  not 
talk  about  "  prosecuting  them  "  therein,  where  he  would  stand 
no  more  show  for  justice,  than  does  a  Gentile  in  Utah,  in  a 
IMormon  court. 

INIr.  Blank's  case  was  put  off  for  about  a  year  by  the 
"good  judiciary,"  while  the  people  were  being  blinded  and 
bull-dozed  into  submission,  and  after  a  change  or  two  of  venue 
the  brethren  indicted  him  with  a  sham  or  "  imperfectly 
drawn  "  indictment  for  manslaughter ;  then  the  "  good  judici- 
ary "  went  through  the  farce  of  a  trial  (?)  on  this  flawed  indict- 
ment, and  the  verdict  was  guilty.     So  now  the  "imperfect'* 


How  TO  KuN  A  Reform  Prison.  291 

indictment  having  been  good  enough  for  a  so-called  trial,  and 
its  necessary  expense  to  the  people  and  profit  to  the  gang,  it 
was  discovered  (?)  to  be  "  imperfectly  drawn,"  and  the  "  good 
judiciary  "quashed  it  and  the  verdict  accordingly,  and  reduced 
the  brother's  bail.  I  quote  from  a  paper :  "  The  case  will  again  be 
presented  to  the  grand  jury  at  the  October  term  of  court,  and 
unless  another  change  of  venue  is  granted  the  trial  will  take 
place  at ." 

The  "good  judiciary  "  played  another  farce  or  two  at  the 
expense  of  the  people  and  profit  to  itself.  ( >f  course,  Mr.  Blank 
was  "acquitted  " — this  having  been  fixed  in  the  dark  at  the  very 
beginning.  Indeed,  it  was  done  in  advance  when  brethren  ivere 
made  officials  of  the  court. 

In  a  similar  case  it  was  stated  by  the  press  that  "  the  case 
from  the  beginning  will  cost  the  people  $35,000.  It  should  not 
have  cost  $1,000." 

Oh  !  What  a  good  (?)  judiciary ! 

Another  sample  case. — "Mr.  Klebnrn  was  walking  along,  with  or 
after  Mr.  [Blank]  on  the  street,  Kleburn  talking  rapidly  and  excitedly, 
though  making  no  demonstration  to  fight  ;  presently  the  two  parties 
stoj)ped  in  front  of  the  .  .  .  office— Kleburn  with  his  back  to  the 
building  and  Blank  facing  him — they  being  about  two  feel  apart.  They 
conversed  in  this  position  probably  three  minutes,  when  Kleburn  was 
seen  to  tap  Blank  on  the  front  of  the  shoulder — as  if  emphasizing 
strongly.  Blank  pushed  Kleburn  back  and  made  some  remark,  but  Kle- 
burn advanced  to  his  old  position,  and  took  hold  of  the  lapel  of  Blank's 
coat  Avith  one  hand.  With  astonishing  rapidity  Blank  drew  a  revolver, 
and  placing  the  muzzle  directly  against  Kleburn's  left  breast,  pulled  the 
trigger.  The  report  was  so  weak  that  those  standing  around  felt  con- 
vinced that  it  was  a  blank  cartridge.  This  can  be  accounted  for  by  the 
barrel  of  the  pistol  being  pressed  against  Kleburn's  person.  Instantly  as 
the  shot  was  fired,  Blank  put  the  pistol  in  his  pocket,  and  started  around 
the  corner,  Kleburn  stood  stock  still,  just  turning  to  watch  his  assailant 
as  he  passed  around  the  corner ;  and  it  was  then  that  the  reporter  dis- 
covered the  man  was  wounded,  and  his  vest  was  burning.  Running  doAvn 
from  his  position  he  took  hold  of  Kleburn's  arm  with  one  hand,  and  strik- 
ing the  blaze  on  his  vest  with  the  other  extinguished  the  fire.  At  that  time 
Kleburn  was  as  pale  as  a  sheet,  and  said,  "Yes;  [Blank]  shot  me."  I 
will  go  with  you  to  a  doctor  ;  when  in  front  of  the  book  bindery,  the 
wounded  man  commenced  to  stagger,  and  despite  all  his  assistant  could  do 
dropped  heavily  at  the  corner  of  the  alley  about  100  feet  from  where  he 
was  shot,  saying,  'I'm  dying.'  " 


292  A   PlLGRTIHAGE  IN  HeLL. 

Other  Tvitnesses  swore  tliat  Kleburn  "was  empliatic,  nothing  like  a 
blow  tliongh,  more  aggressive  in  manner  than  in  action  ;  there  was  no 
motion  on  his  part  to  draw  a  weapon."  And  he  iras  unarmed  while  Blank 
had  armed  himself  to  shool  him.  At  preliminary  (and  only)  examination  a 
couple  of  brethren  jjlead  and  argued  his  case  as  much  and  as  long  as  they 
wanted  to,  and  so  did  Blank  himself;  but  "the  jsrosecuting  attorney  [a 
secret  brother  also]  stated  that  he  would  not  argiie  the  case  ;  the  court  (?) 
had  heard  the  testimony  and  could  judge  whether  or  not  it  was  a  case. " 
And  the  "good  judiciary  announced  as  its  decision  that  "wo  offence  had 
been  committed." 

But  it  was  really  good  enough  not  to  play  any  more  silly 
farces  at  the  expense  of  the  people  as  to  this  case.  And  the 
brotherly  press  all  joined  in  songs  of  praises  to  Blank  — de- 
claring it  to  have  been  "  A  char  case  of  self-defence."  When,  had 
Kleburn  shot  Blank  in  a  like  manner,  they  would  have  howled 
Mm  down  as  a  "  Cold-blooded,  coivardly  murderer,"  and  the 
*'  good  judiciary"  would  have  treated  him  accordingly.  TJiis 
Twne  but  a  tkief  ivill  deny. 

I  could  fill  a  book  with  similar  cases,  of  which  I  have  cut- 
tings, but  as  they  are  transpiring  every  day,  in  one  place  or  an- 
other, every  voter  should  read  and  watch  them  critically,  each 
for  himself,  and  by  his  vote  say  whether  or  not  a  member  of 
any  secret  oath-bound  order  should  hold  any  office  of  profit  or  tritst 
wherein  good  citizens  are  concerned. 

The  proceedings  in  such  cases  were  watched  critically  by  the 
prisoners,  and  many  could  tell  at  the  beginning  just  how  they  would 
end,  by  considering  the  relationship  and  obligations  of  the  gang  as  to 
the  same,  and  their  intense  feelings  at  the  unequal  justice  (tvhich 
is  not  justice)  that  is  practiced,  I  have  no  words  to  describe;  nor 
can  anyone  fully  imagine  who  has  never  unjustly  miserably 
sufi'ered. 

Men  differ  as  to  which  works  the  most  corruption,  money 
or  masonry.  The  fact  is,  it  is  dangerous  to  pay  out  or  receive 
money  corruptly,  unless  it  is  done  through  the  dark,  lurking 
secrecy  of  masonry,  etc.  If  a  blackleg  official  should  receive 
money  corruptly  direct  from  an  outsider  he  might  expose  it ; 
while  a  brother  in  the  gang  would  not  dare  to  do  so.  This  is 
believed  to  be  the  reason  that  a  prisoner's  common  and  honest 
friends,  and  the  people  who  knew  the  man  and  the  case  to  be 


How  TO  KuN  A  Eefoiim  Prison.  293 

good,  had  no  influence  with  the  Governor,  while  a  single  heavily 
paid  brother  in  the  gang  had  all  the  influence  he  loanted. 

Though  members  of  an  oath-bound  gang  have  influence 
enough  to  shanghai  and  hold  innocent  men  in  prison,  as  they 
did  me,  by  perhaps  dividing  the  plunder,  and  even  without,  yet 
if  a  few  of  them  should  attempt  his  release,  they  must  evident- 
ly be  loell  provided  loith  cash  to  succeed.  Some  prisoners  who 
had  no  enemies  in  the  Territory,  and  whom  the  people  wanted 
released,  were  yet  required  by  the  Governor  to  leave  the 
country  forthwith,  as  though  afraid  of  some  secret  being  di- 
vulged. 

And  I — George  W.  France — had  several  offers  to  get  me 
out  for  large  sums  of  money.  One  member  of  the  gang  wanted 
my  homestead  (which  was  what  I  had  left  of  my  fortune)  as  the 
price  of  my  liberty — as  will  hereafter  more  fully  appear.  A 
brazen,  mid-night,  blackleg  Governor,  might  say,  "  Damn  you, 
you  cannot  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  "  good  judiciary  " 
that  /got  or  would  get  such  money."  I  answer,  "  Damn  you, 
it  is  immaterial  to  the  victim  who  of  the  gang  gets  it,  or  don't 
get  it,  if  he  has  to  pay  it  all  the  same,  or  languish."  And,  sir, 
if  you  would  hold  a  man  in  prison  to  be  plundered  and  ravaged 
and  looted  of  all  that  is  valuable,  near  and  dear  to  him,  know- 
ing him  to  be  innocent,  or  refuse  to  know  it,  you  are  a  most 
damnable,  cowardly  thief  anyway.  And  so  you  are,  if  only  high 
priced  agents  have  any  influence  with  you,  while  one's  common 
friends  and  neighbors,  and  the  mass  of  the  people  are  spurned 
as  so  many  rats !  If  you  were  honest,  sir,  you  would  choose  to 
know  and  deal  direct  with  the  principal  and  his  common 
friends,  and  the  public  ;  and  receive  the  truth  whereever  found, 
and  spurn  the  secret  lurking  enemy,  who  dare  not  be  knoiun  !  If 
you  were  not  a  servile  lackey  of  corruption  and  Masonry,  sir, 
you  would  not  spit  in  the  face  of  a  ravaged  victim  the  brazen 
lie,  that  "  we  have  a  good  judiciary,"  when  you  know  that  he 
knows,  that  as  between  outsiders,  justice  is  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder  for  cash  or  mortgages — lohich  is  not  justice — and  that  he 
has  no  more  show  against  your  secret  midnight  brethren,  than 
he  would  have  in  the  Mormon  courts  of  Utah — your  brethren 
also. 

Prisoners,  being  denied   mail   facilities  and  more  direct 


294  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

means  of  attending  to  their  business,  were,  therefore,  often 
compelled  to  trust  business  matters  to  blacklegs  who  were  at 
hand.  In  thus  trusting  a  prison  doctor — living  at  Chehalis — 
he  robbed  his  victim  of,  to  him  a  large  sum  of  money,  in  such 
a  cowardly,  villainous  manner ;  yet  there  was  no  recourse 
against  the  thief. 

It  is  often  said  by  blackleg  officials  that  "  to  hear  prison- 
ers talk,  they  are  all  innocent."  This  is  false,  for  after  their 
conviction  they  most  always  admit  their  guilt,  if  they  are 
guilty ;  especially  to  their  companions.  One  reason  is,  it  re- 
lieves the  mind  ;  another,  because  most  men  would  rather  be 
considered  a  criminal  than  a  fool ;  and  another,  because  they 
generally  fare  better  while  in  prison,  and  stand  a  better  show 
for  release — officials  knowing  how  to  sympathize  with  their 
hind. 

It  was  widely  published  in  the  press  that  one  of  the  Gov- 
ernors skipped  his  native  State  in  the  night,  to  dodge  the 
sheriff  who  had  a  warrant  for  his  arrest  for  (as  administrator) 
robbing  an  estate  of  his  own  people ;  so  he  would  naturally 
hate  fire-arms,  as  knowing  his  just  deserts  like  other  burglars, 
and  how  to  sympathize  with  nocturnal  thieves. 

Another  prison  official  was  reported  to  have  served  a  term 
in  the  Idaho  penitentiary  for  robbing  sluice-boxes. 

Another,  admitted  having  been  guilty  of  frequently  selling 
whiskey  to  Indians,  and  declared  that  he  "  would  steal  before 
he  would  work." 

Another,  and  his  court,  had  robbed  a  paralized  man  in  a 
cold-blooded,  cowardly  way  of  about  $2,000  in  gold  coin.  Two 
had  been  publicly  shown  to  be  perjurers,  and  several  of  them 
are  accessory  to  cowardly,  torturing  murder ! 

What  show  has  an  honest  man  for  justice  with  such  a 
gang  ?  Linked  together  in  a  secret  oath-bound  brotherhood  ! 
With  their  chief  preaching  temperance  to  the  blinded,  ignorant 
multitude,  and  getting  drunk  on  the  sly !  And  publicly  por- 
traying in  glowing  terms  and  silver  tones  the  beauties  and 
loveliness  of  truth,  which  in  his  practice  he  spurns,  detests  and 
spits  upon,  and  declares  to  be  evil !  And  all  parading  the  Bible 
through  the  streets,  to  make  careless  people  think  they  are 
honest ! ! 


How  TO  KuN  A  Keform  Prison.  295 

Well  may  they  love  the  judiciary,  that  they,  by  midnight 
intrigue,  control  and  own,  and  which  is,  therefore,  '.so  good  to 
tJiem,  and  hate  their  victims'  only  effectual  means  of  defence,  as 
they  do  equality  before  the  law  ! 

The  legislature  appropriated  $25,  per  year,  for  newspapers 
of  the  territory,  which  was  highly  appreciated ;  but  this,  I  be- 
lieve, was  the  only  means  spent  for  the  henefit  of  the  2yfisoncrs: 
Those  having  any  friends  left,  would  generally  be  sent  reading 
matter  (also  boxes  of  food,  etc.),  and  many  were  newspapers 
subscribers  and  would  also  buy  books.  The  W.  C.  T.  U.  would 
sometimes  send  in  tracts,  flowers,  etc.,  which,  however,  was 
considered  very  cold  comfort  to  those  whose  bodies  were  being 
cruelly  starved  and  torn,  and  virtue  made '  a  bleeding  slave  to 
depravity,  with  none  to  stand  up  for  the  right. 

This  toying  with  the  devil  because  he  is  in  poiuer,  made  men 
forget  their  prayers,  discard  their  bibles,  curse  the  cringing 
slaves  and  question  God. 

There  was  only  one  outside  door  to  the  bastile,  and  it  was 
In  the  upper  story  ;  so  in  case  of  fire  all  were  in  danger  of  being 
burned  alive — this  one  door  being  the  only  luay  of  escape.  And 
hy  it  was  where  all  the  lamps  were  filled,  etc.,  so  that  the  oil- 
soaked  bench  and  floor  and  can  of  oil  added  to  the  danger. 
One  night  a  fire  in  the  guards'  sitting  room  by  this  door  and  oil 
burned  through  the  six  inch  floor  into  a  prisoner's  cell  below, 
who  gave  the  alarm.  It  was  a  whiskey  fire ;  so  some  of  the 
ofl&cials  might  have  perished  also. 

The  prison  directors  and  others  would  always  admit  and 
promise  to  the  prisoners,  that  other  means  of  escape  from  fire 
should  be  provided  ;  but,  as  the  governor-doctor-and-the-law- 
brother  crooked  his  little  finger  against  it,  this  was  never  done. 
And  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  others  sent  more  tracts  and  flowers. 

The  clothing  was  of  the  cheapest  and  flimsiest  sort,  but 
some  were  allowed  to  wear  their  own,  or  partly  so.  Yet^  in 
other  cases,  even  under-clothing,  sent  by  friends  and  mothers, 
were  denied  and  said  to  be  appropriated  by  officials,  as  was  the 
case  with  other  clothing  also.  The  prison  pants— for  all  the 
seasons — were  sometimes  worn  by  other  men  as  overalls  ;  and 
they  were  usually  patched  and  torn.  And  prisoners  thus  thin- 
ly clad  and  heavily  ironed,  could  be  seen  by  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 


296  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

and  others  working  out  in  the  coldest  weather  and  snow, 
guarded  by  officials  bundled  up  in  overcoats  and  boots  and 
glowing  with  whiskey. 

Nor  had  the  worst  of  these  prisoners  ever  been  more  sinful 
than  the  men  with  influence  at  court  who  stone  them  down. 

Did  Jesus  only  fling  a  tra^t  or  flower  at  tortured  and  looted 
humanity  ?  Or  did  he  not  criticise  the  State,  agitate  and  stir  up 
the  people,  "  Uaspheme  "  the  authorities^  and  DO  something  for  the 
afflicted ! 

The  bastile  cells  were  8x10  feet,  with  two  and  three  single 
beds  in  each.  The  beds  were  a  straw  tick  and  a  50  lbs.  flour 
sack  filled  with  straw  for  a  pillow,  one  sheet  (too  narrow  to  be 
much  good),  and  two  pair  of  light  cheap  blankets— which  were 
never  washed.  However,  if  a  prisoner  was  able,  he  could  add 
to  his  bedding,  which  many  did ;  while  others  suffered  in  cold 
weather,  sleeping  in  double  irons.  But,  on  the  whole,  there 
were  but  few  complaints  as  to  the  sleeping  accommodations. 

The  prisoners  were  expected  to  shave  themselves,  or  each 
other  ;  but  some  were  excused  from  shaving. 

Whenever  a  prisoner  or  two  ran  away,  the  rest  must  have 
their  hair  cut  close ;  though  some  did  so  anyway. 

One  of  the  most  quiet  and  peaceable  men  in  the  prison — 
or  the  world — who  had  worked  hard  and  honestly  for  a  living 
all  of  his  life  and  was  not  now  guilty  of  any  crime,  had  picked 
up  the  shoe-making  trade  here  and  done  all  the  prison  work  in 
that  line,  besides  much  outside  work,  which  had  required  two 
other  men  to  do  before.  His  health  being  poor,  so  to  enable 
him  to  stand  so  much  work,  he  was  trusted  to  walk  about  out- 
side of  the  prison  every  day  without  any  guarding ;  and  was 
being  promised  assistance  by  the  prison  officials  to  get  pardon- 
ed, or — more  properly  speaking — released,  as  he  was  guilty  of 
no  crime.  However,  he  found  that  he  was  being  humbugged 
and  lied  to  in  a  cruel,  brutal,  cowardly  manner — as  is  usual  in 
such  cases — so  he  thought  he  would  pay  them  back  just  a  little, 
which  he  did  one  day  by  extending  his  walk  into  the  woods  and 
remaining  away  for  9  or  10  days,  when  he  returned  alone  and 
resumed  his  joId.  The  contractors  were  so  pleased  to  re-possess 
such  a  profitable  hand,  that  they  accorded  him  his  old  out- 


How  TO  Run  a  Reform  Prison.  297 

door  privileges,  etc.     Yet,  when  he  left,  this  is  the  kind  of  a 
send-off  the  gentlemen  had  given  him  : — 

From  the  Press. — "Escaped  fbom  Seatco.  Tlie  authorities  in  this 
city  have  been  notified  of  the  escape  from  the  territorial  penitentiary  at 
Seatco,  last  Saturday,  of  one  of  the  most  desperate  criminals  ever  confined 
within  its  ipalls.  The  desperado's  name [etc.,  etc.]  The  super- 
intendent of  the  Seatco  prison  offers  a  reward  of  $75  for  his  capture  and 
return." 

So,  if  their  testimony  was  any  proof  of  anything,  it  could 
be  thus  proven  by  themselves,  that  neither  guards  or  irons  of 
any  kind  were  necessary  to  hold  even  the  worst  and  "  most  des- 
perate "  of  the  prisoners  from  running  away,  and,  accordingly, 
they  could  not  have  been  a  very  bad  lot. 

One  of  the  innocent  prisoners  is  in  for  life.  He  was  sen- 
tenced to  be  hung,  and  the  scaffold  was  built  under  his  nose  to 
hang  him  on.  Had  he  been  an  American  citizen,  outside  of 
the  gang,  he  would  have  been  executed,  notwithstanding  every- 
body who  cared  to  know  his  case,  knew  him  to  be  innocent. 
And  so  many  did  know  it,  that  the  people  were  talking  bitterly 
about  the  proposed  murder.  Still  the  Governor  and  Judge 
persisted  in  having  the  victim  thus  to  die  !  As  the  "  good 
Judiciary  "  was  held  to  be  infallible  (as  against  outsiders),  no 
matter  how  infamous  it  be  in  fact. 

The  people  were  so  horrified  at  the  proposed  murder,  that 
it  was  thought  safer  to  do  the  job  up  secretly,  in  the  dark,  as  it 
were.  Indeed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  people,  in  their 
might,  would  have  allowed  such  a  cold-blooded  murder  to  be 
done  in  open  day.  So  the  Governor  would  do  it  privately  and 
out  of  the  people's  sight. 

Here  is  a  clipping  in  point : 

"Governor  [Blank]  and  Judge  [Blank]  have  joined  in  a  si)ecial  re- 
quest to  the  Sheriff,  to  have  the  execution  of  Gionini  conducted  in  the  most 
private  manner  possible.  Strenuous  efforts  have  been  made  to  secure  com- 
mutation to  imprisonment  for  life,  without  avail,  as  the  Governor  considers 
him  to  be  guilty  and  sane,  and  so  resi^onsible  to  the  law  for  his  crime 
against  mankind  and  his  maker.  The  execution  will  take  place  on  Tuesday, 
the  11th  of  March." 

Let  tlie  people  put  a  stop  to  private  executions  !  It  is  Masonry 
and  means  murder  ! 


298  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

This  victim  was  a  citizen  of  little  Switzerland,  and  the 
Swiss  consuls  in  Portland,  Oreg.,  and  San  Francisco,  and  the 
Swiss  Minister  at  Washington,  interested  themselves  in  his 
behalf,  and  secured  a  commutation  of  his  sentence. 

A  man  had  killed  another  for  his  money,  and  then  got  a 
couple  of  Italian  fishermen  to  swear  the  job  on  Gionini,  and  by 
buying  his  lawyer,  as  it  is  supposed  was  done,  this  was  easily 
accomplished.  These  court  witnesses  swore  that  they  were  at 
a  certain  place  when  the  shooting  was  done,  and  "  saw  Gionini 
do  it."  But  it  afterwards  transpired  that  it  was  an  utter  phy- 
sical impossibility  for  a  person  to  see  another  at  all,  from  one 
of  these  places  to  the  other  on  account  of  obstructions  that  in- 
tervened. And  such  was  the  evidence  (?)  on  which  the  man 
was,  and  is  to-day,  robbed  of  his  life. 

His  treatment  nearly  drove  him  crazy ;  he  was  kept  in 
suspense  as  to  his  fate  for  about  a  year,  and  this  was  such  an 
agony  to  him  that  he  told  them  to  "  go  ahead  and  hang  him 
rather  than  thus  prolong  his  misery ; "  when  any  one  could 
have  known  his  case  in  a  week.  He  could  neither  understand 
nor  speak  English  at  the  time  of  his  "  trial,"  and  no  interpreter 
was  allowed  him.  He  is  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  and 
had  held  positions  of  trust  under  his  Government. 

From  the  Press. — "  Father  Cesari  has  just  returned  from  Olympia, 
where  he  has  been  to  see  the  Governor  in  the  interest  of  the  condemned 
murderer  Gionini.  Father  Cesari  says  that  he  knows  Gionini  is  innocent 
of  the  crime  for  which  he  is  convicted." 

The  Mayor  of  the  town  where  he  was  "  convicted,"  de- 
clared : 

"I  most  solemnly  beUeve  that  the  man  is  innocent."  The  Sheriff 
wrote  :  ' '  On  Sunday  morning  I  went  to  see  him  to  see  how  he  was  con- 
ducting himself,  beheving  that  he  had  but  a  few  more  hours  to  hve.  I 
said  to  him  that  I  had  ordered  lumber,  and  next  day  would  have  an  en- 
closure put  up  so  that  the  public  would  not  see  him  die.  He  said  he  did 
not  care  how  many  people  were  there,  that  he  was  going  to  die  an  inno- 
cent man.  He  then  explained,  and  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  the  real 
culprit  is  not  now  in  irons." 

Say  ?  is  it  equal,  just,  or  fair,  to  condemn  any  man  loho  is  un- 
heard and  undefended  ?  A  year  after  "  trial  "  this  accused 
happens  to  he  allowed  to  briefly  "  explain,^'  and  behold  the  Mayor 
and  Sheriff  declare  him  to  be  innocent ! 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eefoem  Prison.  299 

The  Mayor  continues. — "I  firmly  believe  that  another  did  the  deed." 
"I  refer  you  [the  Governor]  to  ex-chief  Justice — and  Judge — who  have 
always  doubted  his  guilt.  Both  were  present  at  the  trial,  and  followed  the 
entire  case,  and  declared  that  the  man  should  not  be  executed,  that  Gionini 

is  7iot  the  murderer."     .     .     .      ^^  Gionini  had  no  defense." 

Now,  if  Gionini  had  been  released  when  it  was  found  he 
was  innocent,  he  might  have  brought  to  justice,  or  at  least  ex- 
posure, the  real  criminals  in  the  case — but  the  Governor  was 
bitterly  opposed  to  thus  being  "  troublesome  "  to  the  gang, 
and  would  therefore  hold  me  to  evidently  screen  them  from 
justice,  and  this  may  be  one  of  the  reasons  that  Gionini  is 
being  held.      The  real  criminals  may  belong  to  tJie  gang. 

A  company,  composed  partly  of  the  prison  contractors, 
built  a  large  sash  and  door  factory  at  the  prison.  The  prison- 
ers were  pleased  at  this — thinking  they  would  then  have  an 
opportunity  to  do  over-work,  and  thus  make  something  for 
themselves,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases. 

When  it  started  up  they  were  given  tasks  about  equal  to 
■what  would  be  expected  of  journeymen,  and  were  to  be  paid  by 
the  piece  for  the  over-work  they  might  do.  A  lot  of  prisoners 
were  thus  set  to  work,  and  it  was  remarked  by  outsiders,  and 
even  officials,  that  they  "  never  before  saw  a  lot  of  inexperi- 
enced men  take  hold  of  such  work  and  machines  with  such 
good  loill,  ability  and  effect. 

The  works  were  thus  manned  with  the  exception  of  a  fore- 
man and  a  machinist.  The  company  gave  the  contractors  fifty 
cents  a  day  for  each  hand  (the  contractors  getting  seventy 
cents  besides  from  the  Territory).  But  the  prisoners  were  to 
be  humbugged  and  abused  like  the  case  of  the  cooper  given 
heretofore.  They  did  their  tasks  and  earned  as  much  as 
seventy-five  cents  a  day  besides.  Therefore  they  were  screwed 
down  and  finally  not  allowed  to  exceed  fifteen  cents  a  day  for 
any  amount  of  work,  and  this  must  be  taken  in  grub,  etc.,  out 
of  a  little  store  that  was  higher-priced  than  others  where  they 
wanted  to  buy.  This  ten  to  fifteen  cents,  however,  added  to 
the  regular  prison  fare,  made  the  eating  good  enough  for  those 
working  in  the  factory.  But  they  thought  they  ought  to  get 
more  than  just  suitable  grub,  inasmuch  as  the  contractors  were 
getting  seventy  cents   per  day  from  the  Territory,  and  they 


300  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

were  earning  $2  or  $3  besides.  And,  moreover,  they  were  often 
forced  out  to  work  when  ill,  and  some  of  the  work  was  danger- 
ous, so  that  several  got  mutilated,  three  loosing  three  and  four 
of  their  fingers,  and  never  being  in  the  least  recompensed 
therefor  in  time  or  otherwise,  and  were  cruelly  and  poorly 
treated  and  cared  for,  so  that  they  suffered  terribly.  For  ex- 
ample :  The  doctor  (?)  in  trimming  what  was  left  of  a  mutilated 
hand,  sawed  off  the  finger  bones  with  a  loood  saw  ! 

One  or  two  foremen  did  all  they  could  to  have  the  men 
treated  right,  but  failing,  quit  the  job— cursing  the  outfit  as 
earnestly  as  did  the  victims.  A  guard  thus  had  a  row  with  the 
prison  superintendent,  and  so  earnest  was  he  that  he  used  his 
pistol,  firing  several  shots,  but  as  he  did  not  kill  him,  it  did 
but  little  good. 

For  various  reasons  there  is  no  class  of  people  as  easily  con- 
trolled to  do  rigid  as  prisoners.  Therefore,  whenever  trouble 
occurs  with  them  it  is  safe  to  those  who  love  the  truth,  to  con- 
sider their  keepers  as  in  the  fault  till  the  prisoners  are  given  a  fair 
hearing  in  the  matter.  And  when  a  keeper  is  killed  by  a  pris- 
oner, it  is  safe  to  those  who  love  the  truth,  to  consider  that  he 
only  got  a  small  portion  of  the  justice  due  such  a  cowardly 
tyrant. 

These  factory  hands  went  to  work  as  before  shown  with  a 
good  will  to  do  good  work,  and  as  much  of  it  as  they  could ; 
and  they  required  no  more  over-seeing  or  watching  than  the 
same  number  of  free  journeymen ;  yet  the  officials  were  not 
willing  to  treat  them  accordingly,  because  this  would  not 
satisfy  their  infernal  passions  of  cruelty,  torture,  and  greed ; 
which,  of  course,  kindled  a  desire  on  the  other  hand  to  resent 
and  get  even;  I  will  give  a  few  examples  of  how  they  would  do 
this :  A  man  working  an  intricate  machine  said  to  a  chum 
near  by,  "  I  have  been  sick  for  two  or  three  days,  and  ought 
to  lay  off  and  take  some  medicine,  but  it  is  no  use  to  ask  the 
devil  of  a  warden,  only  to  be  insulted."  Whereupon  the  chum 
takes  the  butt  of  a  spike,  drives  it  into  a  piece  of  the  others 
material,  and  says  :  "  Damn  them,  run  that  stick  through  your 
machine  and  break  it  up,  so  you  can  lay  off  while  they  are  get- 
ting it  fixed."  And  when  the  foreman  and  chum  come  running 
up  to  see  what  the  racket  was,  the  sick-but-happy-man  was 


How  TO  Run  a  Eefoem  Prison. 


cursing — with  his  mouth— "some  one  unknown  to  him  who 
must  have  a  grudge  against  him,"  and  "  spiked  the  stick  to  get 
him  into  trouble."  And  then,  as  he  is  laying  off  with  me  in 
the  hall,  he  mutters — from  way  down  deep  in  his  heart— 
"  G — d  d — m  them  !  they  would  work  me  too  into  the  grave,  ivould 
they  ?  " 

And  he  was  perfectly  willing  for  the  works  to  be  burned 
into  smoke  and  a  train  was  laid  to  send  it  sailing  to  the  sky. 
When  the  prisoners  were  moved  from  Seatco,  this  man  was 
pardoned,  and  knowing  him  to  be  a  good  hand  if  treated  right, 
he  |vas  induced  to  remain  in  the  factory  (which  was  then 
being  run  with  free  labor)  as  assistant  foreman  of  the  works. 

Pause  and  consider  how,  that  it  is  often  circumstances  more 
than  the  man,  that  makes  the  baleful  criminal,  or  the  success- 
ful man. 

Machine  bearings  were  oiled  (?)  with  sand  and  burnt. 
Cans  of  oil,  etc.,  etc.,  would  have  holes  punched  in  them  and 
thus  emptied.  Light  tools  of  all  sorts  and  material  were 
thrown  away  and  destroyed.  A  man,  in  marking  out  work, 
would  make  little  mistakes  (?)  of  a  quarter  or  a  half  inch — 
enough  to  practically  spoil  the  work— like  prosecuting  attorneys 
and  court  clerks  who  thus  make  "  errors  "  in  an  indictment  or 
bill  of  costs,  to  be  used  as  a  pretext  for  a  new  trial  for  one  of 
the  gang,  who  says  to  his  opponent :  "  If  you  follow  me  through 
the  courts,  it  will  break  you  up ;"  and  it  does.  Who  ever  heard 
of  such  errors  (?)  in  favor  of  a  Christian  against  a  Mason  or  Odd 
Fellow  ? 

Men  loading  the  finished  work  into  cars  would  give  glazed 
doors  and  windows  a  farewell  kick,  and  smash  them. 

The  cedar  dust  was  disagreeable  to  all,  and  to  some  it  was 
very  injurious ;  and  the  boys  wanted  all  of  the  windows  opened, 
but,  for  some  pretext  or  another,  this  was  refused.  Con- 
sequently when  the  foreman  was  out  of  sight,  some  one  would 
hurl  a  club  and  crash  !  goes  a  window  ;  the  foreman  goes  to- 
wards the  racket  and  crash  !  goes  another  behind  him,  which  is 
repeated  at  intervals,  until  there  was  not  a  whole  pane  of  glass 
in  the  building  to  throw  at,  and  they  remained  open  until 
winter. 


302  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

Sometimes  they  would  strike,  that  is  more  or  less  of  them, 
and  take  a  siege  of  bread  and  water. 

One  morning  there  was  a  row  at  the  factory ;  a  man  had 
been  put  on  bread  and  water  for  refusing  to  run  a  certain 
machine,  unless  his  irons  were  removed,  he  having  to  use  his 
feet,  and  it  was  dangerous.  So  a  part  of  the  boys  were  refusing 
to  go  to  work,  unless  he  was  released.  The  warden  was  sent 
for  and  started  to  take  down  the  names  of  those  who  had  struck 
— telling  them  to  separate  from  the  others,  for  him  to  "put 
them  below  "  (on  bread  and  water). 

There  was  a  new  comer  present,  who  was  not  taking  any 
action,  so  the  warden  said,  "  are  you  into  this."  "  I  don't  know 
what  the  trouble  is  about,  but  you  can  count  me  in  with  the 
boys  that  are  striking,  I  guess  they  are  right  and  I  will  stand 
in  with  them."     And  he  did. 

Finally,  after  several  attempts  were  made  to  burn  the 
business  down,  and  finding  that  they  were  bound  to  succeed, 
the  company  nearly  dispensed  with  their  services  and  they 
were  soon  to  be  moved  away. 

Wherever  the  pardoning  power  is  vested  in  the  Governor, 
he  can  always  prevent  or  atone  for  any  abuse  of  prisoners,  and 
he  has  other  powers  also,  to  protect  them,  and  also  the  people 
at  large.  But  when  he  belongs  to  the  gang,  he  need  not  be 
expected  to  exercise  the  office  honestly. 

A  prisoner  should  never  he  removed  from  the  county  ivherein  he 
was  living  and  known;  then  he  would  continue  to  be  known — 
favorably  or  unfavorably,  as  the  case  might  be — but  he  and  his 
conduct  could  then  be  truly  known.  And  when  he  did  not  get 
justice  or  was  abused,  he  could  make  this  knoivn  also  to  the  people, 
WHO  SHOULD  HAVE  THE  POWER  by  written  expression  oj  two-thirds 
of  the  voters  in  the  county,  to  release  a  j^risoner  at  any  time;  thus 
making  effective  the  right  of  petition,  which  blackleg  Governors 
spurn  and  over-ride,  to  enable  secret  midnight  influences  to  prevail. 

Surely,  there  should  be  a  security,  that  the  sober  second 

thought  of  the  people  shall  be  LAW  ! 

And  that  this  shall  not  be  over-ridden  by  any  little  secret 
gang,  or  a  servile  official. 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eeform  Prison.  303 

Oh,  Ye  "Prison  Reformers!" 

Looh  ye  here  and  learn  something  I  !  from  cue  wlao  knoios 
whereof  he  speaks. 

When  in  prison,  the  prisoners  should  be  provided  with 
shop  room  to  work  in,  and  allowed  to  buy  and  use  such  hand 
machinery  and  stock  as  they  may  desire,  and  to  luork  for  them- 
selves and  attend  to  their  oivn  business.  All  such  to  pay  the 
necessary  expense  of  their  keeping  from  the  proceeds  of  their 
work. 

Tradesmen  would  take  in  as  partners  those  who  were  in- 
experienced, but  could  furnish  stock  or  outfit,  and  would  em- 
ploy as  journeymen  those  who  were  both  inexperienced  and 
poor. 

And  by  attending  to  their  own  business,  they  would  get 
ahont/uU  prices  for  their  work. 

To  assist  them  in  doing  so,  would  encourage  honest  in- 
dustry and  be  a  practical,  honest,  Christian  charity;  then  they 
could  buy  their  'tracts  and  flowers,'  and  even  suitable  food,  care 
for  their  families  and  have  something  to  do  with,  and  defend 
themselves  against  the  gang  on  their  release. 

They  would  establish  brands  and  business  reputations, 
that  would  be  as  reliable  and  should  be  as  much  sought  after 
and  patronized,  as  that  of  other  business  firms.  And  an  inter- 
est in  such  a  name  and  business  would  sell  better  to  the  new- 
comer or  the  old  stayer,  whose  interest  it  would  be  to  keep  it 
good. 

It  should  be  seen  to  that  honest  industry  pays  and  that  Iwnesty 
is  made  respectable. 

The  prisoner's  rights  should  be  precisely  like  those  of 
other  men,  except  as  to  their  confinement. 

Punishment  should  be  awarded  only  by  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  or  higher  court  (loho  should  not  belong  to  any  secret,  sivorn 
brotherhood),  in  open,  public  court ;  and  punishment  not  to  ex- 
ceed close  confinement  with  bread  and  water  diet. 

Such  a  system,  I  know,  is  entirely  practicable,  and  means  re- 
form to  such  prisoners  as  need  reforming  half  as  much  as  do 
the  courts,  and  also  means  a  saving  and  security  to  the  people. 

However,  be  it  known,  that  to  reform  most  men,  who  need 
reforming,  it  is  first  necessary  that  they  be  convinced  that  they 


304  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

are  worse  than  other  men,  who  are  considered  good  enough  for 
governors,  judges,  senators  and  even  presidents,  that  are  loaded 
down  with  praises  and  power,  and  their  false  names  and  their 
persons  held  sacred  against  justice,  as  meted  out  to  better  men, 
when  they  are  hiown  to  he  venal,  cruel  and  corruj^f. 

They  reason  that  if  honor  depends  only  on  success,  and 
dishonor  only  on  failure  to  succeed,  and  the  worst  devils  are  the 
most  successful,  then  why  should  they  reform  ? 

Men,  who  are  really  bad,  are  often  so  after  much  study  and 
consideration  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  while  some  have 
gotten  to  be  governors,  judges  and  senators,  others  are  quite  as 
successful  in  villainy  with  a  sandbag ;  while  others  again,  not  so 
bold,  cunning  or  lucky,  get  into  prison.  Still  these  have  hopes 
that  they  will  yet  be  as  cunning,  bold  or  lucky  as  the  others, 
who  are  enjoying  success,  and  frequently  declare  that  "  there 
are  men  working  and  saving  up  stakes  for  them  to  take  when 
they  get  out." 

Now  don't  you  see,  that,  to  change  their  course  in  life, 
there  must  be  an  outspoken,  active  voting  sentiment  and  power 
that  shall  make  virtue,  industry  and  honesty  respectable  and 
successful — even  in  the  courts  1 — and  that  will  make  vice,  idle- 
ness and  dishonesty  disgraceful  and  a  failure— even  in  the 
courts  and  at  the  polls  ? 

That  they  must  be  assured,  that,  if  they  honestly  labor, 
they  can  reap  and  enjoy  the  just  fruits  thereof  themselves ! 
And  that,  what  they  may  win  by  honest  toil,  they  shall  have  a 
right  to  defend,  and  shall  not  be  pillaged  of  it ;  nor  of  their 
liberty ! 

But  this  cannot  be  done,  while  they  know  that  so  few 
wholly  escape  from  the  gangs  of  midnight  conspirators,  that 
have  a  den  in  nearly  every  county,  to  prostitute  the  courts  and 
other  functions  of  government,  to  over-ride  the  will  of  the 
people  and  pillage  all  they  can  throw  down  in  the  way ;  and 
when  they  can  put  their  fingers  on  so  many  victims  who  have 
earned  and  won  so  much  by  hard  and  persistent  toil,  only  to 
be  robbed  and  ravaged  and  looted,  and  held  to  languish  in 
prison  with  no  one  "  working  and  saving  up  stakes  "  for  them 
when  theij  get  out.  For  these  there  is  nothing  but  bitter  deso- 
lation ! 


How  TO  EuN  A  Keform  Prison.  305 

There  are  some  wlio  would  practice  virtue  and  live  the 
golden  rule  only  because  it  is  right  to  do  so,  whether  thej 
"  succeed  or  fail,"  live  or  languish.  But  they  are  unsought, 
undefended  and  unsung. 

Nothing  desired  by  prisoners  need  be  excluded  from  a 
prisoner  except  whiskey,  opium  and  cards.  Steel  and  iron  and 
the  opening  of  letters  does  not  keep  prisoners  from  breaking  away. 
A  phial  of  acid  and  an  old  case  knife  will  let  a  prisoner  out  of 
any  cell ;  and  any  one  having  practical  friends  on  the  outside 
can,  in  one  way  or  another,  get  these.  Guards  are  all  that 
holds  prisoners  who  want  to  break  away.  And  a  single  night- 
watchman  prevented  any  such  escape  for  over  eight  years  at  the 
Seatco  Bastile,  and  he  slept  so  much  that  his  snoring  was  a 
nuisance.  The  prison  was  of  wood,  and  all  the  tools  of  a 
blacksmith  shojJ,  a  farm  and  a  factory  were  accessible  to  the  prison- 
ers, and  any  one  could  have  a  case  knife  that  wanted  it. 

Not  more  than  fifty  per  cent,  of  prisoners  need  any  gvnrding 
at  all,  and  if  dealt  ivith  honestly  and  generously,  not  more  than 
twenty-five  per  cent,  ivould  break  aivay  if  they  could.  Not  that 
they  are  willing  slaves  and  satisfied,  but  because  they  dread 
being  fugitives,  and  want  to  get  out  right. 

October  1,  1883,  Washington  Territory  legislature  assem- 
bled.    And  this  from  the  Governor's  message  : 

"  The  penitentiary  at  Seatco  contains  seventy-three  per- 
sons. 

The  cost  of  their  maintenance  for  the  past  two  years  has 
been  thirty-three  thousand  dollars." 

[The  number  of  prisoners  at  that  time  was  not  seventy - 
three  but  sixty-seven.  But  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  thy 
brother  contractors  were  drawing  pay  for  the  six  extra  that  the 
brother  Governor  allowed  them,  which  would  amount  to  $1,533 
a  year,  and  for  nine  years  $13,797.  If  there  was  no  censorship 
over  a  prisoner's  correspondence,  such  errors  (?)  would  never 
occur.  There  were  men  in  prison  for  long  terms  for  stealing 
only  a  few  dollars.] 

His  Excellency  continues. — "  The  management  is  judicious 
and  firm,  very  properly  tempered  with  kindness."     [^Kindness  !'\ 

"  The  prisoners  have  general  good  health,  and  but  few 
20 


306  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

deaths  have  occurred."  [He  does  not  tell  how  some  of  them 
died,  or  the  number.] 

"  When  seriously  sick  they  are  placed  in  the  hospital,  have 
good  accommodations,  nursing,  and  excellent  medical  atten- 
tion." [I  have  heretofore  described  the  hospital  (?),  and  given 
examples  of  the  "  nursing  "  and  "  excellent  medical  attention  " 
that  the  sick  in  reality  did  get.] 

"  They  are  provided  with  abundant  food  in  suitable  variety, 
ample  clothing  and  ordinary  sleeping  cells." 

[He  ought  to  be  fed  on  such  grub  the  rest  of  his  life,  and 
■wear  light  cotton  clothing  all  the  year  round,  which  he  says  is 
"  ample."  ] 

"  They  [the  prisoners]  are  generally  well  disposed  in  con- 
duct." [Then  why  did  he  not  give  them  "  generally "  the 
rebatement  of  time  provided  by  law  on  account  of  the  same  ?] 

"  And  not  a  few  of  them  give  evidence  of  a  desire  to  be- 
come good  citizens."  [How  could  they  help  it  with  such  "  vir- 
tuous "  examples  before  them  ?] 

"Moveable  shackles  have  been  introduced  and  used  in 
many  cases  to  the  comfort,  benefit  and  satisfaction  of  the  con- 
victs, who  remove  them  at  meal  time,  at  night,  and  on  Sun- 
days." [That  is  many  who  had  not  been  wearing  any  irons 
before  were  now  made  "  comfortable,"  satisfied,"  and  "  bene- 
fitted," by  their  use.] 

"  In  the  out  of  door  system  of  labor  [which  he  favored]  it 
is  considered  unsafe  to  dispense  with  the  riveted  shackles 
in  view  of  the  additional  temptation  and  facilities  for  escape 
incident  to  the  new  irons,  but  in  any  cases  where  they  can  be 
safely  used  they  are  always  applied." 

[The  law  in  regard  to  this  matter  of  the  preceding  legis- 
lature, meaning  to  "fortlnoith  do  aioay  with  the  riveted  irons," 
and  which  himself  recommended  with  his  mouth  and  pen,  and 
official  seal,  had  been  practically  ignored,  and  the  foregoing  is 
the  Governor's  excuse  for  the  crime  of  torturing  better  men  to 
put  money  into  the  contractors'  pockets.  They  were  getting 
hotel  rates  for  keeping  the  prisoners  without  their  labor  ;  yet 
the  Governor  ignored,  violated  tJie  law,  and  favored  their  keep- 
ing their  victims  in  heavy  double  irons,  night  and  day,  all  the 
time,  and  so  they  had  to  sleep  in  their  clotJies/or  years  !     And  this 


How  TO  KuN  A  Keform  Prison.  307 

to  enable  the  contractors  to  more  securely  and  with  less  guards 
coin  their  heart's  blood  into  money ! 

And,  moreover,  did  the  irons  on  the  men  with  the  guard 
who  fell  asleep,  hold  them  from  escaping  (?) :  Certainly  not. 
It  was  the  little  humanity  exercised  by  the  guard.  These 
prisoners  had  axes  in  their  hands  to  cut  and  break  off  their 
irons,  and  a  rifle  and  pistol  at  their  feet  to  defend  themselves  ; 
they  were  in  the  woods  and  the  guard  was  asleep  !  Yet  his 
Excellency  says  officially  in  his  message,  that  "  in  any  cases 
where  they  can  be  safely  used  they  [the  moveable  irons]  are 
always  applied."  Say  !  would  any  one  but  a  tyrant  iron  such 
prisoners  at  all  ? 

Even  men  confined  to  their  beds  with  sickness  were  in 
double  irons,  and  when  the  prisoners  were  moved  away  from 
this  secret  hell,  these  very  ones  were  accorded  all  of  their 
short  time,  as  no  bad  conduct  had  ever  been  charged  against 
them.  Such  was  the  real  "  kindness  "  and  "  nursing  "  (?)  of  the 
Governor  and  company.  And  the  victims  who  so  horribly  suf- 
fered have  a  right  that  the  truth  he  knoivn. 

The  message  continues. —  "  Moral  instructors  have  been 
appointed,  and  have  discharged  the  duties  imposed  faithfully, 
and  with  decidedly  satisfactory  effect." 

[Yet  they  had  no  influence  to  reform  any  of  the  abuses  or  to 
liberate  prisoners  whom  they  knew  to  be  innocent. 

"  Those  lives  which  you  have  labored  to  destroy."^ 

"I  have,"  says  the  Governor,  "issued  but  few  pardons 
save  under  the  statute  allowing  rebate  of  five  days  to  each 
month  for  good  behavior  upon  the  recommendation  of  the 
superintendent."  [Now,  instead  of  his  stating  that  the  super- 
intendent ivas  alivays  one  of  the  contractors  or  their  hand,  and 
was  loth  to  recommend  seventy  cents  a  day  besides  the  labor 
out  of  their  pockets,  and  that  the  law  was  therefore  a  humbug, 
needing  to  be  changed  as  according  to  it,  nearly  all  of  the 
prisoners'  conduct  was  bad,  as  he  chose  to  be  governed  by  the 
superintendent  who  was  "  the  doctor,  Governor,  and  the  law,''  he 
said  the  following  stuff :  "  This  law  is  most  salutary,  inspiring 
good  conduct  with  hope  of  reward  which  is  always  recognized 
by  the  pardoning  power." 


308  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

[Other  States  had  laws  securing  a  rebatement  of  about 
one-third  of  the  time  for  good  conduct ;  and  after  the  prisoners 
were  finally  taken  from  the  contractors  such  a  law  was  passed 
for  them.  But  while  the  gang  were  getting  big  pay  -  or  rather 
plunder— out  of  the  prisoners  and  people,  the  Governors  were 
satisfied  with  the  old  law  which  was  no  benefit  at  all  to  the 
prisoners  and  people,  as  the  prisoners  got  no  more  short  time 
after  its  passage  than  before.  Most  Governors  can  give  as 
much  short  time  as  they  please,  with  or  without  any  special 
law.  Sometimes  prisoners  are  released  by  the  Governor  before 
they  reach  the  prison  at  all,  as  has  been  seen.  I  thus  call  at- 
tention to  the  mere  gabble  and  deceit,  and  rot  of  "  great  (?) 
state  papers."     "  What  fools  we  mortals  be  ?  "] 

The  "  State  paper  "  continues.  "  The  present  contract  for 
confining,  guarding,  and  boarding  of  the  prisoners  will  expire 
on  the  first  day  of  August,  1884,  and  before  your  successors 
assemble  ;  it  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  provide  for  future 
contingencies  at  this  session.  The  present  contractor  has  ful- 
filled his  obligation  to  the  Territory  honorably  and  efficiently,  has 
been  at  much  expense  in  building  the  prison  [with  but  one 
door],  and  stockade  [of  wood  that  the  prisoners  did]  and  pro- 
viding other  necessary  appliances  [what  were  they?],  has  valu- 
able experience  and  is  worthy  of  your  considerate  attention,  if 
he  presents  a  proposition  to  renew  the  contract." 

[Could  any  contract  slave-trader  plead  his  own  case  any 
better  than  this  ?  The  prison,  etc.,  cost  about  $4,000  ;  and 
those  six  paper  prisoners  alone  would  amount  to  $13,797 ! 

It  is  a  wonder  that  he  did  not  recommend  that  the  "  hon- 
orable "  contractors  be  paid  $15,000  for  the  loss  (?)  of  the  work 
of  those  absent  or  paper  men.] 

"  A  law  of  Congress  provides  that  all  Territories,  except 
Washington,  shall  have  as  a  donation  the  United  States  pris- 
ons located  within  their  respective  domains,  upon  their  admis- 
sion, as  States.  In  view  of  this  remarkable  exception  against 
us,  I  suggest  that  you  petition  Congress  to  give  us  the  prison 
at  McNeil's  Island  at  the  proper  time,  which,  if  secured,  will 
afford  an  economical  solution  of  the  subject  for  the  future." 

[This  could  have  been  gotten  for  $36,000  at  the  outset ; 
thus  effecting  a  saving  to  the  Territory  of  over  $125,000  while 


How  TO  EuN  A  Eeform  Pkison.  309 

these  contracts  were  running,  and  over  $125,000  more  expended 
in  the  prison  at  Walla  Walla,  as  the  prison  on  the  island  could 
be  easily  self-supporting  and  without  using  a  single  iron  of 
any  description  or  any  other  brutality.  But  the  masonic  com- 
mittee of  the  legislature  reported,  on  examination,  that  "  it  ivas 
unsafe  to  keep  prisoners.' '  So  they  paid  their  brethren,  with  the 
people's  money,  hotel  rates  and  their  labor,  to  board  and  guard 
the  prisoners,  and  furnish  such  a  safer  (?)  place  that  they  kept 
tliem  in  double  irons  night  and  day,  all  the  time  to  hold  tJiem  I 

Is  it  not  a  burning  outrage  that  such  a  gang  of  traitors  and 
bribe-takers  should  be  in  office,  and  so  fixed  with  the  "  good 
judiciary,"  that  under  the  shadow  of  official  authority  they  can 
murder,  ravage  and  suck  the  heart's  blood  of  their  victims  with 
impunity,  and  go  pic-nicking  with  their  plunder — these  conquer- 
ing and  crowned  criminals  !  And  they  have  passed  a  law  vir- 
tually making  it  a  ''crime  "  for  anyone  to  show  up  their  crimes 
to  the  people.  And  the  courts  virtually  hold  that  their  "  per- 
sons and  feelings  are  sacred,"  and  that  they  "  cannot  be  guilty 
in  law  of  crime  to  be  punished  as  other  men,"  and  that  "  out- 
siders have  no  rights  or  feelings  that  they  must  respect." 

From  the  Press  :  "  The  Seattle  Herald  recently  accused  the  Ai'gus  of 
purchased  silence  in  the  matter  of  the  penitentiary  at  Seatco,  but  makes 
amends  honorable  editorially  in  the  following  language  :"  "Our  state- 
ment made  in  a  recent  issue  of  the  silence  of  the  Ai'gus  on  the  question  of 
the  necessity  of  investigation  of  the  officers  of  the  penitentiary  is  with- 
drawn. The  Ai-gus,  as  its  rale  is,  gives  its  indorsation  (at  least  to  the  extent 
of  quotation)  to  our  efforts  to  expose  an  abuse  of  authority  which  is  simply 
a  disgrace  to  our  coast,  and  a  reflection  on  the  ci\'ilization  which  we  are 
proud  to  think  characteristic  of  this  country — even  if  we  are  far  west. " 

"Ckxjel." — "  From  members  of  the  legislature  the  Seattle  Chronicle 
learns  of  a  state  of  affairs  at  the  penitentiary  that  demands  immediate  and 
full  investigation.  The  prisoners  are  clothed  in  the  lightest  sort  of  appareL 
Their  pants  are  usually  dungeree,  and  they  have  but  the  single  pair.  One 
man  stated  that  he  had  had  but  one  pair  of  pants  in  thirteen  months — the 
time  he  had  been  there.  When  they  work  out  and  get  w-et,  their  clothes 
dried  on  them  in  bed.  The  heaviest  ii-ons  are  used — one  man  wearing 
twenty-five  pound  shackles  for  a  number  of  years,  but  now  they  are  seven- 
teen pounds.  These  shackles  are  never  taken  off — are  worn  night  and  day 
until  the  men  step  out  free. " 

The  Tacoma  Ledger  said  :  "  It  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  [the  gang] 
is  opposed  to  the  construction  of  a  Territorial  penitentiary ....  The  failure  to 
build  one  might  mean  much  money  in  the  pocket  of  [the  gang] .  .  .  .China- 


310  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

meu  worked  for  ninety  cents  a  Jay  and  were  driven  from  the  country. 
[The  gang]  hire  out  their  slaves  for  fifty  cents  a  day,  and  persons  claiming 
to  be  enemies  of  cheap  labor  would  aid  in  the  perpetuation  of  this  sys- 
tem." 

"  Tlie  Penitentiary." — "From  time  to  time  reports  have  oozed  out 
from  the  penitentiaiy  at  Seatco.  They  have  not  varied  much.  The  testi- 
mony coming  from  that  sequestered  place  of  confinement  has  swept  in 
general  scope  the  same  field,  and  laid  practically  the  same  charges  at  the 
door  of  the  management  of  that  institution.  Two  years  ago  the  members 
of  the  legislature  visited  Seatco,  and  at  that  time,  here  and  there,  it  was 
said  that  the  treatment  of  the  inmates  was  of  a  sort  better  adajjted  for  the 
care  of  animals  than  human  beings.  It  is  a  system  wrong  in  piinciple, 
and  doubly  so  in  practice.  It  opens  the  door  for  the  entrance  of  personal 
greed  of  gain,  cruelty,  and  neglect  of  men  so  kept.  .  .  .Against  the  manage- 
ment at  Seatco  the  charge  is  made  that  the  prisoners  are  not  properly  fed, 
are  miserably  clothed,  and  are  often  piinished  when  there  is  not  the  shght- 
est  reason  for  it.  It  is  natural  that  a  contractor  should  desire  to  make  all 
he  can  out  of  his  contract  [but  it  is  always  in  the  power  and  pro\ince  of 
the  Governor  to  prevent  any  abixse].  They  form  sufficient  basis  for  a  far 
more  rigid  examination  of  the  manner  in  which  the  institution  is  con- 
ducted. Hitherto  the  inspeciiori  has  been  oio  better  than  none — not  so  good 
in  fact.  The  members  of  the  legislature  visiting  Seatco  have  simply  com- 
plied with  the  letter  and  not  the  spirit  of  the  laws — abuse  and  criminal 
neglect  should  be  prevented.  Let  the  legislature  make  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners  at  Seatco,  and  know  from  practical 
observation  that  the  cupidity  of  contractors,  and  the  natural  thirst  for 
cruelty,  which  is  the  usual  result  of  absolute  power,  do  not  over-leap  the 
line  of  simple  justice." 

As  TO  THE  HOSPITAL  FOE  THE  INSANE  AT  STEILACOOM, 
WASH. — His  Excellency  (?)  in  his  message  says  :  "  Personal  observation 
and  a  study  of  the  reports  satisfy  me  that  the  affairs  of  the  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  have  been  managed  in  an  inteUigent,  humane  and  economical  man- 
ner, by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  also  that  the  medical  and  hygienic  treat- 
ment have  been  eminently  skillful  and  successful,  and  the  general  super- 
vision careful  and  thorough." 

An  Inmate  at  the  time  writes. — ". . .  .The  patients  are  not  guilty  of 
crime  but  are  often  over- worked.  Brutal  treatment  is  not  the  kind  of 
usage  which  the  government  intended,  this  institution  is  conducted  by 
brute  force.  The  government  of  this  institution  is  a  failure.  Profane  and 
obscene  language,  that  I  never  bef  or.*  heard  of  a  parallel,  is  used  by  the 
wardens  with  one  single  exception.  In  conclusion  I  would  state  that  the 
tax  payers  of  Washington  tenitory  have  a  right  to  know  of  the  dark  and 
dreadful  scenes  that  I  have  witnessed — the  beating  of  patients  for  no  just 
cause,  that  the  heart  sickens  when  we  reflect  that  the  records  of  barbarism 
fail  to  produce  a  i>araUel  to  this  infamous  treatment  of  innocent  men, 


How  TO  KuN  A  Reform  Prison.  811 

guilty  of  no  crime,  and  left  without  redres?,  who  are  threattnied  uulh  sudden 
and  teri'ihle  penalties  if  they  reveal  the  facts  in  any  case  whait^rer.  I  believe 
in  an  almiglaty  and  merciful  providence  ;  I  resorted  to  that  source,  and 
from  that  I  received  courage  to  divulge  the  base  conduct  of  those  en- 
trusted with  the  care  of  those  unfortunate  patients.  I  am  only  doing 
what  my  conscience  dictates.  The  fear  of  man  is  not  worthy  of  a  serious 
and  candid  thought." 

Geo.  W.  Sloan. 
Frum  the  Press. — '■^Adjudged  Insane".  "Two  inquests  in  lunacy 
were  held  in  the  Probate  court  yesterday.  [Blank]  and  Geo.  White  were 
adjudged  insane,  and  committed  to  the  Asylum.  In  the  case  of  the  latter 
a  trial  Avas  demanded  and  granted.  In  the  course  of  the  evidence  "it 
came  out"  that  White  was  laboiing  under  the  delusion  that  a  conspiracy 
had  been  formed  against  his  Hfe,  and  he  accordingly  went  armed  to  the 
teeth,  anc)  kei3t  a  constant  lookout  for  his  supposed  enemies.  A  bowie 
knife  and  revolver  were  taken  from  his  person.  Judge  [Blank]  considered 
him  an  unsafe  man  to  be  at  large,  and  gave  judgment  accordingly." 

[Reflect  !  that  with  control  of  the  courts,  press,  and  secret 
"  asylums  "  (?),  how  easy  it  would  be  for  the  gang  to  thus  put 
a  victim  out  of  the  way,  when,  after  conspiring  against  his  life 
and  property,  they  find  that  he  is  aware  of  their  job  and  has 
armed  himself  accordingly  for  his  defense.  Such  conspiracies 
are  often  real  and  not  a  "  delvsion  "  at  all — as  the  remains  of  so 
many  victims  secretly  murdered,  and  the  wrecks  of  many  homes 
are  witnesses.  And  this  Judge  most  likely  had  a  pistol  in  his  own 
pocket  at  the  time,  to  kill  somebody. 

As  example  of  how  victims  are  shanghaied  from  other 
States,  to  be  buried  alive  in  living  tombs  where  the  "  manage- 
ment is  so  *  humane !  and  careful'  (?)  to  keep  them  from  *  making 
trouble.' " 

I  give  the  following  from  the  Press  : — "  V. . . .  B. .  .  .  is  thrice  more 
sane  than  her  tormentors,  and  she  is  unjustly  held  in  the  Steilacoom 
asylum.  The  idea  that  she  should  be  held  there  insohtaiy  confinement  to 
prevent  her  from  exposing  a  villain,  while  he  is  alloAved  to  run  at  large  in 
this  State,  is  jareposterous.  Every  disinterested  person  who  has  visited 
V. . . .  B. . . .  willingly  states  that  they  believe  her  to  be  sane.  A  physician 
who  was  called  expressly  to  see  her,  scorns  the  idea  that  she  is  not  in  her 
right  mind,  and  if  her  friends  desire  to  do  her  justice,  let  them  comply 
with  the  demands  of  the  poor  girl,  and  have  her  examined  thoroughly  by 
two  or  three  physicians,  and  not  entice  her  away  into  a  strange  land,  have  a 
secret  examination,  and  then,  before  she  knows  what  is  the  matter,  have  her 
locked  in  a  celL" 


312  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

".  .Why  was  it,  tliatin  establishing  her  insanity,  two  common  laboring 
men,  whom  V . . . .  B .  . . .  never  saw  in  her  life  before — as  she  states — were 
brought  forward  to  testify,  when  she  was  examined  in  Washington 
Territory  aa  to  her  sanity ;  and  who  was  the  i)hysician  who  conducted  that 
examination  ?  It  would  be  interesting  to  the  peoi^le  to  know.  If  they 
were  to  go  to  Steilacoom  and  there  see  the  tears  course  down  the  cheeks  of 
a  poor  girl,  hear  her  supplications  for  deliverance  from  her  enemies,  and 
listen  to  her  sensible  talk  on  all  subjects,  a  visitor  might  suggest,  they 
Avould  perhajis  change  their  oj^inion  in  relation  to  the  matter.  Y .  . .  . 
B. . .  .  asks  only  for  an  honest  examination,  and  aj^iihlic  one  ;  at  the  hands 
of  physicians  selected  by  disinterested  parties,  and  she  should  have  it.  It 
will  do  no  harm  to  her,  and  will  satisfy  the  jjublic  mind. " 

Were  it  not  for  the  law  (heretofore  given)  forbidding  cen- 
sorship as  to  her  out-going  letters,  Jioiv  would  the  "public  mind" 
become  interested  to  care  about  lier fate ;  she  was  thus  enabled  to 
make  her  case  known,  to  gain  friends,  when  the  press  outside  of 
the  territory  {and  gang)  agitated  and  plead  her  cause.  And  so 
the  paper  {Portland  Mereurij,  of  September  16,  1883)  continues: 

"As  the  case  now  stands,  the  girl  has  friends,  and  is  getting  them  by 
the  score  every  day,  and  if  Lawyer  [Blank]  does  not  want  a  hornet's  nest 
of  pubHc  oi^inion  around  his  ears,  he  will  come  to  the  front,  and  not  only 
enhghten  the  people  as  to  how  he  managed  to  get  her  into  the  insane 
asylum,  biit  who  j^aid  the  bills  and  who  gave  the  medical  examination. 
V. . .  .  B.  .  .  .  from  the  appearance  of  things  is  unjustly  detained  at  the 
Steilacoom  asylum  [with  its  "humane  and  careful  and  thorough  "  manage- 
ment !]  and  if  those  she  is  calling  on,  do  not  come  to  her  assistance,  she 
will  go  wild  with  grief  and  become  a  maniac  to  a  cei'tainty."     [Many  are 

thus  MADE  INSANE.  ] 

[When  the  legislature  met,  one  of  the  members,  disregard- 
ing the  Governor's  message  as  to  the  "  humane  and  careful 
management"  of  the  institution,  was  instrumental  in  having 
the  girl  released,  and  she  went  forthwith  to  work,  setting  type 
in  a  printing  ofl&ce — so  she  was  not  very  insane;  the  "good 
judiciary  "  and  Governor  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

No  prison  should  ever  be  entrusted  to  men  who  love  dark- 
ness and  mystery  better  than  light  and  truth. 

No  doubt  there  were,  and  are  at  this  very  time,  ivhen  you  are 
reading  this,  many  innocent  and  sane  victims  there,  as  well  as 
elsewhere ;  for  bridal  keepers  could  prevent  them  from  making 
their  cases  hioiun  in  spite  of  the  lata  to  the  contrary.     And  even 


How  TO  EuN  A  Beform  Prison.  313 

this  Governor  was,  by  a   successor,  recommended  to  the  legis- 
lature, for  A  TRUSTEE  TO  THIS  VERY  INSTITUTION. 

It  should  he  made  hij  laio  death  ON  sight,  to  any  official 
squelching  any  prisoner's  case  from  the  public.  And  a  majori- 
ty of  the  voters  of  any  county  should  he  empowered  hy  law  to  re- 
lease a  prisoner  from  an  asylum  ;  and  two-thirds  from  any  other 
prison. 

There  are  societies  for  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  animals; 
will  not  the  plaintive  wails  of  human  suffering  find  any  willing 
and  earnest  ears  ? 

Says  the  Portland,  Oregon,  News: — "A  prominent  man  of  Chihalis, 
TVasliington  Territory,  wlio  is  in  the  city,  says  that  many  persons  are  sent 
to  the  insane  asylum  at  Steilacoom  who  are  as  sane  as  those  who  commit 
them.  An  investigation  would  be  justice  to  those  who  are  evidently  victims 
of  official  ignorance." 

]_Ignorance  (?)  is  it  ?     Then  let  the  people  judge  !] 

Once  again  :—"  James  Balch  was  discharged  from  the  asylum  at 
Steilacoom  on  the  18th  inst.  [1888]  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  He  has  been 
an  inmate  of  the  asylum  for  five  years,  and  claims  to  have  been  perfectly 
sane  all  the  time. " 

Expert  testimony. — "In  the  case  of  a  woman,  who  had  been  confined 
two  years  in  the  asylum,  five  experts  testified  that  she  was  perfectly  sane, 
and  that  her  confinement  as  a  lunatic  was  an  outrage;  but  those  who  Avere 
interested  in  keeiDing  her  shut  up  brought  f  oi-ward  five  other  experts  who 
swore  that  she  was  crazy  and  unfit  to  be  at  large.  This  illustrates  the 
usual  effect  of  exiaert  testimony  by  which  courts  and  juries  are  bewildered 
and  rendered  incapable  of  rendering  jiist  decisions. 

Under  the  practice  which  commonly  prevails  in  the  trial  of  insanity 
and  patent  cases,  and  suits  for  damages  for  bodily  injury,  experts  are  hired 
to  give  an  opinion  for  the  side  on  which  they  are  employed.  They  are 
advocates  rather  than  witnesses,  and  their  employment  as  such  is  one  of 
the  most  notorious  abuses  that  now  flourish  in  our  courts." 

As  TO  THE  Territorial  University,  the  Governor,  in  his 
message,  has  never  a  word  to  say  as  to  the  wholesale  stealing 
by  the  Masons,  of  the  lands  helonging  to  if,  though  he  asks  that 
the  legislature  appropriate  the  people's  money  to  run  this 
looted  institution ;  and  looted  ivith  impunity !  And  he  says, 
"  Five  thousand  and  fifty-seven  acres  of  University  lands,  as 
donated  by  Congress,  have  not  yet  been  selected." 


314  A  Pilgrimage  in  Hell. 

From  the  Press : — "  The  number  of  acres  (of  University  lands)  still 
remaining  unselected  is  only  500  or  600,  instead  of  5,000,  as  reported  by 
Governor  [Links].  Some  years  ago  75,000  acres  of  choice  timber  land 
were  picked  out  by  a  commission,  and  set  aside  for  the  benefit  of  a  Univer- 
sity. The  land  is  all  gone  with  the  exception  of  some  500  acres,  and 
nothing  to  show  for  it,  but  a  modem  structure  that  cost  about  $10,000; 
and  the  land  on  which  it  stands  goes  to  other  parties  shoiild  the  Uni- 
versity ever  be  moved.  Would  it  not  be  well  for  the  people  of  the  Queen 
City  to  investigate  this  matter  and  see  where  the  $250,000,  now  due  said 
Territorial  University,  have  gone  ?  And  yet,  in  the  face  of  all  this,  Seattle 
[and  the  Governor]  persists  in  asking  the  legislature  for  an  ajji^ropriation 
each  session,  to  keep  it  from  being  rented  out  for  a  lodging  house.  There 
has  been  a  mystery  hanging  over  our  Territorial  University  since  its  found- 
ation, and  it  has  never  been  a  credit  to  our  people  and  Territory.  No 
doubt,  the  time  will  come  when  an  investigation  will  be  called,  and  the  true 
inwardness  and  condition  be  known." 

[The  ring  press  called  this  Governor's  message  a  "  Great  State  Paper." 
And  the  secret  brethren  could  afford  to  do  so.] 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Prison  experience,  continued. — My  personal  efforts  and  that  of  my  friends 
for  my  release  from  the  Bastile,  for  some  kind  of  a  trial,  and  for  only 
a  resijectful  hearing. — The  result,  etc. — "Truth  wears  no  mask,  bows 
at  no  human  shrine,  seeks  neither  place  nor  applause,  she  only  asks  a 
hearing." — Letters  of  my  wife  ;  governors,  judges,  and  various  other 
persons,  and  correspondence. — Petitions,  recommendations,  etc.,  etc., 
how  they  were  treated,  etc.,  etc. 

oOON  after  my  arrival  at  Seatco,  I  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Governor,  giving  him  a  concise  statement  of  my  case  and  situa- 
tion. I  begged  him  to  investigate  the  matter,  and  gave  him 
reference  as  to  the  same,  so  that  he  could  do  so  with  very  little 
trouble.  I  also  asked  him  to  state  to  me  what  showing  and 
proof  and  kind  of  petition  he  would  require  to  release  me. 

But  he  would  not  even  answer  my  letter. 

He  was  a  Freemason  ring  man,  so  what  did  he  care  for  me 
or  mine,  so  long  as  none  of  the  secret  brethren  complained  ? 

I  was  bringing  into  the  gang  seventy  cents  a  day  besides 
my  labor,  and  my  home  and  family  were  being  ravaged ;  which 
condition  of  cruel  persecution  and  pillage  was  entirely  satis- 
factory to  his  Excellency  (?). 

I  had  approached  him  in  a  very  civil,  open,  frank,  honest 
way,  without  any  mystic  signs  or  middleman  of  secret  intrigue 
and  corruption.  I  simply  wanted  a  respectful  hearing,  and  for 
him  to  correct  a  brutal,  corrupt,  and  hellish  outrage,  which  by 
his  official  oath  he  was  sivorn  to  do.  Yet  he  spurned  me  even  a 
hearing  !  His  time  being  about  out,  it  was  not  thought  possi- 
ble that  another  such  as  he  would  be  appointed.  He  had  been 
in  office  when  the  infamous,  brutal  sivindle  of  a  contract  job  ivas 
done,  and  tlie  Seatco  Bastile  established  ;  therefore  it  was  not  to 
be  expected  that  he  had  any  heart,  humanity,  or  sense  of 
justice. 

"  You  disdained  and  renounced  my  justice,  and  turned  aside  and 
wounded  with  a  stab  my  honest  pride — to  repress  the  manly  swelhng  in 
my  breast." 

As  it  was  thus  evident  that  nothing  good  could  be  accom- 

(US) 


310  SntUGGLING   FOR  LIBERTY. 

plished  with  liim,  my  friends  delayed  getting  up  petitions  until 
the  new  Governor  would  take  his  seat.  This  was  the  "  Galli- 
nipper,"  who  was  soon  afterwards  appointed,  but  he  did  not 
arrive  to  assume  the  office  until  late  in  October,  (1880). 

Meanwhile  and  afterwards,  my  wife  and  others  wrote  as 
follows : 

"Home,  July  26,  1879. 

Deak  Husband  : — I  received  your  letter  last  night ;  your  ad\-ice  is 
good  as  it  always  is,  and  has  always  been,  and  I  will  try  very  hard  to  pro- 
fit by  it ;  but  there  are  many  disadvantages  to  contend  with,  more  es- 
pecially to  be  obliged  to  borrow  money  to  save  our  home  from  being 
swept  away,  and  all  of  us  left  homeless ;  but  your  attorneys  shall  not  have 
our  home  they  tried  so  hard  to  get ;  they,  who  undertook  to  defend  you, 
and  extorted  all  of  our  means,  and  then  gave  you  away  without  even  an 
effort  to  save  you.  Those  whom  I  have  talked  to  about  it  say,  that  "of 
all  the  trials  they  ever  heard  of,  this  beats  anything  yet ; "  not  even  one- 
half  of  your  witnesses  used.  It  is  the  most  unjust  affair  ever  recorded, 
and  if  the  Governor  could  only  get  to  know  the  wTiole  truth,  you  would  be 
sent  home  at  once.  Neighbor  after  neighbor  speak  of  the  injustice  you 
have  to  suffer,  and  say  that  you  were  "  such  a  good  neighbor  "  to  live  by. 

Even  Mr exclaimed,  to  a  company  who  were  discussing  the  outrage 

you  are  suffering  :  "I  am  an  old  man,  and  can  say  that  I  never  lived  by 
a  more  honest,  upright  man,  and  kinder  neighbor  than  he,  and  he  was  the 
same  to  all  as  he  was  to  me." 

And,  my  dear  husband,  there  is  not  that  person  Uving  who  can  say 

ought  against  you,  and  tell  the  truth 

but  do  not  blame  me,  George,  and  when  you  think  of  it,  ' '  think  tender- 
ly of  me,  for  I  am  travel-worn — my  feet  are  pierced  with  many  a  thorn 
when  dreamless  rest  is  mine,  I  shall  not  need  the  tenderness  for  which  I 
long  to-night. 

If  I  should  die  to-night,  you  would  call  to  mind— with  loving  thought 
some  kindly  deed  my  icy  hand  had  wrought — some  gentle  word  my  frozen 
lijis  had  said — errands  on  which  my  willing  feet  had  sped.  The  memory 
of  my  selfishness  and  j^ride,  my  hasty  words,  would  all  be  piit  aside,  and  I 
would  rest  forgiven  of  all  to-night." Effie." 

"August  5th,  1879. 
....  I  jiist  received  your  letter.    Children  are  all  in  bed,  and  I  am  here  aU 

alone  to-night ;  woidd  to  God  I  was  with  you Mr.  S.  .was  here  to-day, 

he  says  that  every  one  says  that  your  attorneys  did  not  defend  you  at  all ; 
he  says  come  to  him  and  he  will  work  with  and  assist  me  in  making  the 
truth  known  to  the  Governor.  And  Mr.  B . .  . .  told  me  the  same.  P . .  . . 
and  H  .  .  .  are  very  warm  friends.  I  have  a  good  deal  of  confidence  in 
Mr.  S.  .  .  for  he  is  a  very  smart  man  and  well  posted  in  law,  and  his 
advice  is  the  same  an  yortrs ;  .  .  .  had  you  got  justice  you  would  have  been 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  317 

cleared  at  preliminary  trial,  but  they  don't  go  according  to  law  here I 

enclose  children's  jiictures.  ...  I  can  only  say  he  your  own  dear  self,  and  you 
will  be  all  right; .  .  .  write  often,  for  if  you  exjiect  me  to  live,  you  must  not 
forget  that  I  live  only  on  cheering  words  from  you;  your  letters  to  me  are 
as  some  life-saving  boat  to  a  drowning  man, .  .  .  and  now  good  night.  'We 
miss  thee  at  home,  i/es,  we  miss  thee — there  lingers  one  gloomy  shade 
round  me  that  only  your  presence  can  light. '       Your  loving  wife, 

Effie.  " 

"  Home,  September  28,  1879. 
Inez  and  Clyde  have  been  sick,  and  May  is  unwell.     I  am  about  the 

same '  Leave  me  not  yet — leave  me 

not  cold  and  lonely;  leave  not  the  hfe  that  borrows  from  thee  only,  all  of 
deHght  and  beauty  it  hath.  Tell  me  not  time  (whose  wing  my  brow  has 
shaded),  has  whithered  spring's  sweet  bloom  within  my  heart.  Ah,  no; 
the  rose  of  Love  is  yet  unfaded,  though  hope  of  joy,  its  sister  flower, 
depart.  Leave  me  not,  my  human  teacher,  lonely  and  lost  in  this  cold 
water  of  ours.  Heaven  knows,  I  need  thy  music  and  thy  help,  still  to  be- 
guile me  on  my  weary  way.  To  lighten  to  my  soul  the  cares  of  duty,  to 
charm  my  wild  heart  in  the  worldly  revel — lest  I  too  join  the  aimless,  false 
and  vain.    Let  me  not  lower  to  the  soulless  level  of  those  whom  now  I  pity 

and  disdain.     Oh,  fly  not  to  Heaven,  or  let  me  share  thy  flight. ' 

Effie.  " 

"  October  29th,  1879. 
....  I  have  been  very  sick.  I  am  so  tired,  and  worried  to  death  nearly. 
...  .1  only  hope  to  live  to  circulate  petition,  and  to  succeed  in  seeing  you 
home  once  more,   and  if  I  fail,  death  will  be  a  welcome  messenger.     I 

am  so  tired  of  seeing  our  property  going,  that  we  worked  so  hard  for 

Effie.  " 

"Home,  November  3d,  1879. 
My  Deak  Husband  : — I  wrote  you  a  few  days  ago,  but  this  being 
Sunday,  I  thought  I  would  write  you  a  long  letter.     I  am  getting  better, 
but  gain  strength  so  slow. ...  I  am  well  enough  to  walk  out  to  the  granary. 

Clarence  has  gone  to  church  with  Carrie. ...  I  found  Mr.  J the  same  true 

friend — ui^holding  you  in  everything I  wOl  get  Mr.  B .  . .  .  [an  eye  wit- 
ness to  the  fight]  to  sign  a  statement,  same  as  he  told  Mr.  B .  . .  . ,  Mr. 
H .  .  .  .  and  others  after  the  fight.  And  will  also  get  them  to  send  a  state- 
ment of  the  same;  will  also  have  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  .  .  .  send  to  the  Governor, 
what  Mrs.  [Jumper]  said  [Jumper]  said  when  he  left  the  house  with  his 
gun  [to  murder  me] .  I  will  also  get  jaeople  here  to  write  to  the  Governor 
that  they  believe  Mc ....  swore  to  a  lie  as  to  you  having  threatened  [Jum- 
per] ,  as  many  have  expressed  themselves  so,  and  he  tells  different  and  con- 
flicting stories  yet  about  it.  [This  was  the  only  neighbor  not  on  my 
petition].     L. . .  .  told  me  right  after  the  fight  that  'it  was  a  mystery  to 


318  Struggling  for  Liberty. 

him  why  the  first  shot  dill  not  kill  us  both,' — and  that  at  his  (Jumper's) 
second  shot,  '  Mr.  France  wotdd  never  have  known  what  killed  him,  if  I 
had  not  struck  down  the  muzzle  of  the  gun,  as  it  was  aimed  past  me  at 
his  heart.'  B . . . .  also  told  the  same  story,  and  he  told  me  that  you  '  was 
not  to  blame,  that  you  did  just  right,'    [which  is  the  verdict  of  all  who 

know  my  case,  excej^t  thieves  and  members  of   the  gang] The 

children  are  all  well,  but  Clyde  has  been  sick.  Inez  is  a  great,  big  girl  and 
pretty  as  a  j^icture — hair  just  as  curly.  May  is  growing  very  fast  and  is 
almost  boss  of  the  place.  Clarence  is  also  growing  fast.  You  would  hardly 
know  me.  I  am  so  poor — am  very  tired,  and  as  you  see  verj'  neiwous.  I 
exjaected  to  be  able  to  see  you  this  fall,  but  money  is  so  scarce  [the  brutal 
traitors  and  thieves  were  spending  it  for  whiskey  and  other  vices].  But 
I  will  be  there  after  you  some  of  these  days — soon  as  I  can  get  around  to 
it. Your  loving  wife,  Effte.  " 

"Home,  Febmary  1st,  1880. 
My  Deab  Husband  : — Everything  has  been  a  whirl  of  excitement  and 

trouble I  have  been  so  sick,  and  mother  was  buried  a  week  ago 

yesterday and  failure  to  raise  money  when  due,  all   combined 

Judge  W.  will  not  now  sign  petition,  as  he  and  the  Governor  are  enemies; 
and  says,  that '  to  sign  it,  while  he  is  Governor,  would  only  prolong  your  time, 

as  he  would  pay  no  other  attention  to  his  signature  in  your  favor. ' 

I  can  speak  above  a  whisper  only  part  of  the  time.  The  children  are  well 
and  having  a  big  play Your  own  loving  Tvife,  Effie." 

"  Home,  April  4th,  1880. 

Mr.  N . . . .  sends  me  word  that  he  had  written  to  you  [the 

letter  was  squelched,  as  was  i^sual]  and  says  that  he  will  use  all  the  influ- 
ence he  has  in  your  behalf.     Mr.  H . . . .  says  the  same  also 

Effie." 

"Home,  May  4th,  1880. 
. . .  .George,  I  now  hope  to  see  you  soon,  if  all  things  are  as  we  now 
expect. . .  .1  wish  I  could  just  step  in  for  you  to-night.  Babies  are  all  asleep 
and  well — Clarence  and  May  started  for  school  to-day ....  We  think  that 
Judge  W. .  .  .  will  now  sign  petition.  [Note. — But  while  the  Judge  said 
he  would  not  opi^ose  my  pardon  at  any  time,  he  maintained  that  "  it  was 
no  part  of  his  business  to  sohcit  any  man's  restoration,  that  this  is  the 
Governor's  province,  and  for  him  to  exercise  whenever  it  appears  proi3er 
to  do  so."'] .  .  .  .Enclosed  find  locks  of  Chdie's  and  Inie'shair.  ALsocojjy  of 
letter  from  Bro.  O .  . .  .  and  Mr.  H . .  .  .  with  his  petition,  the  other  has  not 
come  yet Effie  M.  France.  " 

"April  Ist,  1880. 

My  old  Feiend  Geobge. — Enclosed  find  petition  of  such  represen- 
tative men  of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  who  knew  your  father's  family  of  their 
own  personal  acquaintance;  and  our  representative  in  Congress  then  secur- 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  319 

ed  some  signatures,  outside  of  Ulster  county,  that  I  don't  know,  except  by 
reputation. 

I  would  be  glad  to  do  anything  in  my  power  for  you,  knowing  that 
you  were  always  right  when  here,  and  we  have  no  doubt  as  to  the  situation 
of  the  affair  out  there. 

Do  not  get  discouraged  ;  an  honest  man  is  the  noblest  work  of  God. 
And  any  man  who  attempts  to  live  honest,  must  meet  just  such  trials  and 
difficulties  as  you  have  gone  through,  unless  he  will  consent  to  buy  his 
peace. 

Knowing  your  strictly  moral  and  honest  habits  and  disposition  from 
childhood,  I  feel  there  must  be  some  way  for  you  to  be  restored. 

Judge  Westbrook  said,  he  thought  the  President  had  the  pardoning 
power  of  a  territory.  Anyway,  if  pardon  is  denied  by  the  Governor,  have 
petitions  returned  to  you  for  future  reference.  [But  the  blackleg  Govern- 
ors would  never  do  this.'] 

If  there  is  anything  I  can  do  for  you,  please  make  it  known  and  it  shall 
be  done,  if  possible. 

Still  hoping  for  the  best,  I  remain  your  true  friend, 

C.  A.  J.  Hakdenbekgh, 
Supervisor  of  the  Town  of  Shawangunk,  Ulster  county." 
[Afterwards  Assemblyman.] 

Wm.  Lounsbekky,  M.  C,  Ulster  county. 
H.  "Westbkook,  Judge  Supreme  Court. 
Bob't  a.  Snydek,  Sheriff,  Ulster  county. 
Alton  B.  Reuben,  Surrogate,     " 
Chas.  a.  Foster,  Senator,  " 

Thos.  E.  Benerich,  Member  Assembly. 
Peter  D.  Lepever,  "  " 

J.  M.  Bailey,  "  " 

Frederick  MrLLS,  "  " 

E.  M.  Madden,  Senator. 
John  H.  Eogen,  Teller. 

Mr.  H.  had  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  eighteen  consecutive  years, 
and  was  all  the  time  the  most  trusted  representative  of  the  people  of  his 
section  in  various  capacities. 

I  will  here  state  that,  which  none  but  a  thief  and  liar  will 
deny,  that  my  good  character  and  innocence  of  any  crime  from 
the  cradle  to  the  gang's  Bastile,  was  established  as  truly  and 
plainly  as  can  any  other  man  in  this  Territory,  in  or  out  of 
prison,  establish  his.  But  only  to  find  that  I  had  less  con- 
sideration and  security  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  my  honorable 
toil  and  unflawed  character,  than  did  the  blood-sucking  shys- 


320  Struggling  for  Liberty. 

ters  and  robbers  the  fruits  of  their  secret  intrigue  and  crime. 
**  Moral  distinctions  die  out  of  the  minds  of  wicked  men. 
They  become  incapable  of  moral  judgment  or  of  any  sensation 
of  pity.  The  despoilers  of  homes  seek  the  cover  of  night  and 
the  protection  of  banded  crime  for  their  wickedness." 

"  When  the   meanest  citizen  is  oppressed,    the   proudest 
might  well  tremble. " 

"Home,  June  29tli,  1880. 
My  Deak  Husband  : — . . .  .Have  been  circulating  petition,  but  hear 
that  the  Governor  will  not  come  out  here  [from  the  States]  until  fall ; . . . . 
will  complete  it  when  we  get  ready  to  go  to  Olympia.  [She  gives  the  names 
of  ten  persons  as  the  only  ones  who  refused  to  sign  petition  for  my  release, 
and  they  were  either  members  of  the  gang,  or  were  ignorant  of  my  case.] 
'  Three  weeks  ago  I  weighed  122  pounds ;  to-day  104  pounds.  I  have  a 
fever  every  day .  .  .1  tell  you  we  will  go  well  prepared  to  the  Governor,  with 
strong  petitions,  etc. ,  etc. ,  and  think  it  "n-ill  be  about  the  first  of  October. 
Effie.  " 

"August  24th,  1880. 
....  Children  have  the  whooping  cough ....  I  am  taking  medicine  for  my 
lungs — horehound  honey,  tar  and  rum — and  I  have  to  take  for  my  liver 
mav-apple-root,  and  then  add  to  that  bitters  to  strengthen  and  make  me 
eat.  I  get  tired  before  I  get  around.  [I  had  always  kept  my  family  and 
myself  in  good  health  without  drugs  or  doctors  ;  but  such  trouble  is  kill- 
ing to  those  who  innocently  suffer,  though  it  be  considered  by  the  robbing 
home  ravagers  as  but  paying  sport  to  them.  Indeed,  the  misery  of  their 
victims  is  to  them  the  essence  of  deHght,  and  they  think  it  tends  to  their 
safety  to  break  the  health  and  siiirits  of  such  as  are  best  esteemed  by 
others  for  their  virtue,  and  even  to  resolve  upon  their  utter  destruction.] 

"Home,  September  19th,  1880. 

There  is  yet  seventy  acres  of  grain  to  harvest, 

this  ninety  acres  on  homestead  is  threshed 

Wheat  only  thirty-five  cents,  dehvered.  [But  hogs  were  a  good 
price,  and  I  had  my  farm  stocked  to  feed  up  all  I  could  raise 
on  the  whole  480  acres,  which  was  mostly  well  fenced  for  the  purijose.  I 
was  fixed  so  that  I  could  have  made  ^1,500  to  $2,000  a  year  clear.  And 
this  I  intended  to  invest  mostly  in  stock  each  year,  which  -with  their  in- 
crease would,  in  a  few  years,  amoiant  to  $50,000,  which  will  give  an  idea 
as  to  this,  the  least  phase  of  the  ravage  done  me  by  the  gang  of  robbers, 
backed  by  a  rotten  government.  Hogs  were  as  high  as  eight  cents  on  foot, 
but  my  large  stock  of  them,  together  with  my  other  stock  and  most  every- 
thing else,  was  sacrificed  and  wasted  awa^^  by  my  situation,  until  my 
family  and  affairs  were  swamped  in  a  general  wreck  so  that  the  midnight 
conspirators  could  fatten  on  human  misery  and  blood.] 


Theilling  Correspondence.  321 

"  December  20th,  1880. 
As    I  liave  written  you  before  I  am  not  able  to  under- 
take the  journey  to  Olympia,  so  I  have  written  to  the  Governor  explaining 

why  I  do  not  go,  and  Mr.  N . . . .  and  P have  written  also  ;  and  now 

the  petitions,  etc.,  will  follow  the  letters.  I  would  much  rather  have 
taken  them  to  the  Governor,  but  I  cannot  go,  and  trust  that  sending  them 
will  do  as  weU Effie.  " 

"  January  28th,  1881. 

I  am  anxiously  looking  for  some  word  from  you,  and  we 

look  for  you  by  the  10th  of  Februaiy  if  not  sooner will  meet  you 

in  Dayton I  have  so  much  to  tell  you get  Clarence  a  knife, 

Clyde  a  gim,  and  May  and  Inez  each  a  doU [Think  !] . .  am  so 

nervous,  could  talk  better  than  write.  Believing  you  will  be  home  inside 
of  two  weeks,  I  will  close  and  wait  until  I  see  you.     I  am  waiting. 

'  Waiting,  quietly  waiting, 

To  hear  his  step  at  the  door  ; 
Starting  at  every  murmur, 

Striving  to  rest  once  more: 
Stilling  her  heart's  wild  beating. 

With  hands  clasped  over  her  breast, 
Praying  for  peace  and  patience. 

Patience  and  jieace  and  rest. 

Long  are  the  hours  of  daylight, 

Weary  and  dull  and  long  ; 
Life's  work  seemeth  a  burden 

Hushed  is  her  lute,  her  song  : 
Waiting,  forever  waiting, 

For  day  to  fade  in  the  sky  ; 
Waiting  for  night's  dark  shadow 

Which  brings  the  loved  one  nigh. 

Waiting  with  painful  longing, 

To  lay  his  head  on  her  heart ; 
Waiting,  though  knowing  always. 

That  they  must  forever  part  : 
Powerless  now  to  resist  it, 

The  love  which  ujibidden  has  grown, 
Like  i\'7 — creeping  and  cHnging — 

In  love  round  the  granite  stone. 

Waiting  without  an  effort 
To  cast  his  image  afar  ; 
Looking  at  him  as  travelers 
Look  to  the  evening  star. 
21 


322  Struggling  for  Liberty. 

Waiting,  though  knowing  to-morrow 

Will  unite  them — yes,  for  aye — 
But  waiting  and  hoping  and  cashing 

To  see  him  once  more  to-day.'  Effte." 

"  Home,  February  10th,  1881. 

We  are  hourly  expecting  jow  home,  as  the  petitions,  etc., 

etc. ,  to  the  Governor  were  mailed  the  18th  of  January,  over  three  weeks 

ago,  and  you  have  probably  received  money  (^50) If  this  is  a 

failure,  but  I  cannot  think  it  is,  I  shall  see  you  in  the  spring,  for  I  will  go 

and  see  you  and  the  Governor  myself Oh,  George, 

I  am  with  you  in  my  dreams  every  night  and  all  the  day I  can  do 

nothing  but  wait  as  jaatiently  as  I  can They  say,  *  George  will 

come  as  fast  as  he  can. '     Oh,  do  not  tarry  a  moment. 

'  All  through  the  day,  Avatching  for  you. 
Though  I  am  far  away  I  "^vill  be  near  you  ; 
I  cannot  cheer  you,  yet  I  will  stay, 
I  will  be  near  you  all  through  the  day. 

All  through  the  day,  seeking  in  vain. 
Wings  for  the  hours — weighted  with  pain 
All  things  are  drear — nothing  is  gay, 
Yet  I  "will  be  "with  you  all  throiigh  the  day. 

Worn  is  my  frame,  wan  is  my  cheek. 

Low  are  my  accents,  broken  and  weak. 

Yet  sweet  to  think  of  you  all  day, 

And  I  will  be  with  you,  all  through  the  day.  Effte." 

From  a  friend  Adsiting  my  wife  at  this  time  : 

"At  youk  Home,  February  10th,  1881. 
Deak  Feiend  : — We  are  looking  every  time  the  dog  barks  to  see  if 

JOW  are  coming I  almost  know  the  Governor  cannot  jjass  your 

petitions  by,  but  would  be  much  better  satisfied  if  Mrs.  F . .  . .  had  taken 

it  herself.      Mr started  a  week  ago  to  meet  yoti,  and  we  are  hourly 

looking  for  you.     I  am  writing  this  and,  at  the  same  time,  hoping  you  , 
may  not  get  it  till  it  returns.     But  if  you  are  fated  to  stay  there  until 
this  may  reach  you,  and  it  helps  to  pass  a  lonely  moment,  I  shall  consider 

it  was  not  written  in  vain Children    are  calling   in    as 

they  i^ass  fi-om  school  to  hear  if  yoix  have  come and  if  yoii  delay 

longer  than  Saturday,  I  am  afraid  I  will  not  have  the  pleasure  to  help 
welcome  you  to  your  own  dear  home  and  family. 

Your  friend,  Mrs.  F.  G.  M  . . . 

From  a  sister : — All  of   my  people  being  in  accord  with 
her  as  to  my  case,  as  are    my  friends    also  elsewhere ;   none 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  323 

of  whom  liave  been  able  to  discover  any  fault  of  mine  to 
justify  the  robbery  and  persecution  practised  against  me,  and 
are  alike  startled  at  the  plain  and  evident  fact,  that  a  peace- 
ful, law-abiding,  well-to-do,  respected  citizen  can  be  thus 
shanghaied  from  his  hard  and  well  earned  home,  to  be  pil- 
laged of  his  livelihood,  liberty,  love  and  happiness,  and  con- 
demned to  a  horrible,  lingering,  tedious  death,  without  re- 
course that  even  a  cannibal  would  get  in  his  own  country. 

' '  A  Sister's  ceaseless  tears, 

Needs  no  imploring,  passionate  appeaV 

"  September  19th,  1879. 

My  Deab  Bkother  : — If  ever  in  the  world  there 

was  a  case  of  justifiable  homicide,  yours  is  clearly  and  surely  one  ;  and  to 
me  and  to  us  all,  it  is  very  strange  the  jury  did  not  see  it  in  that  Hght. 
You  certainly  pursued  an  upright,  straightforward  course  in  the  matter, 

doing  jMsi  what  you  should  have  done A  strange  community, 

indeed,  you  must  have  been  surrounded  by  to  permit  such  work.  But  be 
patient,  by  the  time  the  upright  portion  of  your  community  have  time  to 
get  theii-  eyes  open  to  a  just  sense  of  right  and  wrong,  you  will  be  par- 
doned out M.  J.  S." 

Everybody,  except  members  of  the  gang,  or  those  having 
had  experience,  thought  that  just  as  soon  as  one's  neighbors 
who  knew  the  man  and  the  case  best  of  all,  should  petition  for 
his  restoration  to  them  that  the  Governor  was  bound  to  act 
accordingly  :  little  did  they  think  that  the  blacklegs  would 
spurn  to  even  look  at  their  petitions,  when  secretly  opposed  to 
members  of  the  gang. 

"September 1879. 

We  would  very  much  rather  have  you  right  and  where  you 

are  than  wrong  at  home That  L. . . .  must  have  been  a 

very  silly  fellow  to  have  lost  his  balance  of  mind  as  he  did. . .  .you  was 
the  one  [Jumper]  was  after,  and  L . .  . .  only  an  obstacle  in  his  way  ;  and 
just  as  soon  as  he  could  jerk  the  gun  from  him,  of  course,  you  was  the 
one  he  would  have  killed. . .  .You  are  mistaken  about  one  thing  you  wrote 
to  the  Governor,  '  that  your  children  were  disgraced  ; '  now  that  is  a  very 
mistaken  idea  ;  had  you  committed  a  c7-ime,  then  the  case  would  have  been 
a  very  difierent  one.  No,  no,  there  is  no  such  thing  as  disgrace  about  it 
to  you  or  yours ....  Think  of  the  Chisholm  aflfau*  in  Mississippi  ?  see  how 
much  worse  off — the  Judge  and  two  children  murdered ....  and  as  I  said 
before,  you  must  consider  the  class  of  men  you  had  to  deal  with.  . .  .Your 
statement  is  just  a  straightforward  thing,  and  I  am  glad  you  published  it 


324  Struggling  for  Liberty. 

aud  so  are  we  all. . .  .What  a  shame  to  the  Territory  to  allow  such  work  as 
has  been  enacted  -with  you.  Your  loving  sister,  .  M.  J.  S." 

"December  28th,  1879. 

He  -who  assaults  another's  hf e,  by  that  action  forfeits  his 

own — the  same  may  be  allowed  in  defence  of  our  property  when  violence 
is  menaced ....  The  verdict  is  a  mystery  to  be  solved ....  Here,  or  in  any 
other  civilized  community,  the  verdict  would  have  been  "served  the 
villain  right."  If  a  man's  rights  are  no  better  protected  than  that,  it  is  a 
very  bad  place  to  hve M.  J.  S . .  . . " 

"March  9th,  1880. 

Do  not  think  that  truth  and  virtue  is  at  discount  in  the  world 

because,  by  adhering  strictly  to  these  and  other  virtues — as  in  your  case — 
you  be  lodged  for  a  season  in  prison ;  that  is  no  proof  of  those  virtues 
being  wrong ;  they  have  triumphed  in  the  past  and  will  in  the  future, 
and  you  will  live  to  see  it M.  J.  S . .  . . " 

"January  3d,  1881. 
Dear  Beothek  : — Be  patient,  my  boy,  and  you  will  not  be  there  long, 
and  we  wish  the  Governor  to  turn  up  something  for  you  as  a  redress  for 

the  wrongs  jou  and  your  family  have  suffered And  be 

thankful  also,  George,  that  your  children  are  sjjared  to  see  you  through, 
and  vindicated  as  you  surely  must  be,  as  the  truth,  though  crushed  for  a 

time,  will  surely  rise  triumphant  in  the  end.     Trust  in  the  Lord 

M.  J.  S." 

"March  1st,  1881. 

You  say  all  shall  be  compensated  for  their  trouble  for  you. 

Now,  George,  never  repeat  such  an  idea,  w^e  are  simply  doing  our  duty 

and  pleasure The  deep  sympathy  of  our  natures  bound  towards  you 

in  your  unjust  trouble,  and  there  is  nothing  in  our  i^ower  that  we  would 
not  do  to  extricate  you  from  it We  are  all  so  anxious  to  hear  the  re- 
sult of  petitions,  etc.  We  think  of  you  day  and  night,  you  will  never 
know  how  my  mind  reverts  to  you  in  all  possible  times. . .  .may  the  Lord 
bless  the  present  efforts M.  J.  S. .  . . " 

"June  15th,  1881. 

How  grieved  we  all  are  to  hear  of  Governor  [Links]  course. 

Dear  me,  when  will  the  end  come  ? Ave  miist  tnist  to  God  and  try  to 

look  up  through  this  black,  dismal  cloud  in  faith — knowing  there  is  a 
silver  lining,  though  we  are  not  able  to  see  it  yet.   But,  George,  the  silver 

lining  is  surely  there And  now  A^ith  assurance  that  we  will 

do  all  in  our  power  for  your  release M.  J.  S.  .  .  ." 

"  February  16th,  and  April  8th,  1882. 

I  doubt  not  that  in  time  all  the  mi/stei-ies  of  your 

unjust  imprisonment  will  be  unveiled I  beheve  your  being  con- 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  325 

fined — unjustly  though  it  be — saved  your  life  from  those  enemies  that  rose 
up  so  venomously  against  you,  for  they  seemed  determined  on  your  de- 
struction, and  there  is  no  telling  what  means  they  would  have  used  to 

accomphsh  their  f  oiil  ends See  how  Paul  was  jjersecuted,  and 

why  ?  It  was  not  for  any  wrong  act  of  his,  but  because  he  was  straight- 
forward in  doing  his  Christian  duty.     We  are  very  sony  to  hear  of  your 

ill  health Time  is  a  great  restorer  of  rights,  and  avenger  of  wrongs. 

Your  neighbors  and  townsmen  strongly  petitioned  for  your  re- 
lease, but  ....   has  very  evidently  been  corruptly  tampered  vnth 

M.  J.  S.  .  ." 

Two  of  my  witnesses  had  been  controlled  to  testify  when 
on  the  stand,  that  Jumper's  carbine,  at  his  second  shot,  was 
aimed  at  my  near  companion  (L — )  instead  of  at  me,  so  that  I 
would  be  defending  another  man's  life  instead  of  my  own.  But 
as  they  had  from  the  fight  and  for  about  nine  (9)  months  there- 
after declared  that  the  second  shot  was  aimed  at  me,  and  there 
being  three  men  at  Seatco  who  had  been  in  jail  with  these  two 
witnesses,  and  had  heard  them  very  frequently  say  that  "it 
was  aimed  behind  L —  at  me,"  I  therefore  desired  to  get  their 
affidavits,  with  those  of  other  men,  to  establish  this  fact  beyond 
any  dispute. 

L —  had  forthwith  after  the  fight  so  declared  it,  and  in  a 
complaint  for  Jumper  and  partner's  arrest,  which  he  wrote  out 
himself,  had  also  sworn  that  this  second  shot  "  was  aimed  past 
him  at  me,"  and  the  other  witness  had  always  so  stated  it  (and 
DOES  NOW,  1889)  to  even  his  wife,  ivho  never  kneiv  he  had  ever  con- 
tradicted it  until  I  informed  her  after  my  release.  "  Why  !  "  she 
said,  "  He  always  told  me  and  others  that  the  gun  was  aimed 
past  L —  at  you,  and  L —  striking  it  down  saved  your  life  and 
killed  the  horse." 

If  the  Governor  hesitated  in  releasing  me,  I  wanted  him  to 
give  me  some  kind  of  a  trial  (inasmuch  as  I  had  never  had  any) 
to  enable  me  to  bring  out  and  establish  such  matters  as  these. 
So  I  wrote  to  a  notary  public  to  come  and  take  these  affidavits 
for  me,  and  received  the  following  reply  : 

"  Tenino,  November  17th,  1879. 

Geo.  W.  riiANCE,  Esq.,  Seatco. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  will  be  at  Seatco  last  of  this  week  or  first  of  next,  when 
I  will  attend  to  your  business.  Yours  truly,  F.  K.  B.  . "' 


326  Struggling  for  Liberty. 


But  I  was  not  to  be  allowed  to  positively  destroy  the  only 
point  that  served  the  gang  as  a  pretext  for  "  convicting  "  (?)  and 
plundering  me  ;  therefore,  though  B .  .  was  frequently  at  the 
bastile,  I  could  not  get  the  business  done.  Once  I  was  told 
that  the  Notary  had  left  word  for  me  "  to  have  the  papers 
signed  and  send  them  to  him,  and  he  would  do  the  "  acknowl- 
edging at  home  and  forward  them  on  to  the  Governor  for  me." 
This  was  evidently  a  trick  to  squelch  the  business  as  they  would 
a  letter,  and  B .  .  being  one  of  the  charitable  (?)  brethren,  was 
willing  not  to  interfere  with  their  game  of  torture. 

Here  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  I  wrote  to  B .  .  over  three  montlis 
after  I  commenced  to  try  to  get  this  business  done,  and  /  ivas 
trying  all  the  time. 

"Seatco,  W.  T.,  February  16tli,  1880. 

F.  K.  B..  Esq.,  Tenino. 
Dear  Sie  : — Will  jou  jjlease  be  so  kind  as  to  attend  to  that  business 
for  me  at  yoiir  earliest  possible  convenience  ?  Please  to  consider  my  sit- 
uation, and  that  I  am  unjustly  imi^risoned — which  fact  I  ^\\l\  establish  in 
part  by  the  three  affidavits  that  I  am  so  anxious  for  yoii  to  take,  as  I  de- 
sire to  send  them  at  once  to  the  Governor,  or  to  accompany  a  jjetition 
from  my  home.  Very  truly,  Geo.  W.  Feance.  " 

Of  course,  with  an  honest  Governor  one's  life  would  not 
be  thus  trifled  with,  and  haggled  and  flayed.  But  such,  my 
countrymen,  is  practical  masonry.  Have  I  not  seen  it  ?  Have 
I  not  felt  and  suffered  it  for  so  many  years  ?  Dont  I  know  that 
this  is  so  ? 

On  the  first  visit  of  Governor  [Links],  I  being  in  the  din- 
ing room,  easily  got  an  interview  with  him.  I  referred  him  to 
the  briefs  of  my  case  that  I  and  others  had  sent  to  the  execu- 
tive oflSice  before,  and  that  petitions  would  soon  be  sent  to  him, 
and  got  him  to  promise  that  if  there  should  be  any  opposition 
or  objection  to  my  release  that  he  would  let  me  know  forthwith 
by  whom  it  was  made,  and  give  me  an  opportunity  to  meet  and 
disprove  it.  But  I  could  not  get  him  to  state  anymore  than  I 
could  his  predecessor, "  what  showing  he  would  require  to  release 
a  prisoner,"  but  he  repeatedly  said  he  "  would  consider  my 
case  very  carefully,"  etc.,  etc.,  and  I  being  so  plainly  innocent, 
and  having  such  strong  proof  of  it,  and  such  petitions  withal  it, 
did  seem  to  me  that  there  could  not  be  another  being  in  human 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  327 

form  and  aspect,  so  brutal,  so  corrupt,  so  blood-thirsty  and  cruel 
as  to  reject  and  spurn  it  all,  that  he  might  gloat  over  the  misery 
and  heart's  blood  of  his  victims.  I  told  the  Governor  how  I 
was  denied  the  right  to  attend  to  my  business  as  to  the  affida- 
vits, etc.,  but  instead  of  his  seeing  to  it  that  none  should  be 
denied  such  vital  rights,  he  settled  it  by  saying  that  I  "  could 
just  send  the  papers  in  to  him  simply  signed,  and  he  would 
consider  them  as  though  they  were  sworn  to."  He  thus  joined 
in  squelching  my  case. 

"  Foi'  lohere  is  now  that  liour  or  hallowed  day, 
Wlien  plundering  villains  cease  to  prowl  for  prey  ? 
Exhausiless  xoeallh  their  boundless  bosoms  crave. 
Wliile  thieves  concealed  in  every  guise  ice  view." 

Very  soon  after  this  visit  of  the  Governor  my  petitions 
and  other  papers  were  sent  in  to  him.  But  for  a  long  time 
afterwards — though  I  wrote  the  most  plaintive  appeals  to  his 
supposed  sense  of  justice  and  humanity,  and  begged  of  him  not 
to  thus  torture  and  destroy  all  that  was  dear  and  worth  living 
for  to  me  and  mine  — yet  I  could  get  nothing  out  of  him,  but 
that  he  was  "  considering  "  my  case.  Oh  !  what  a  hateful, 
treacherous  word  that  "  considering  "  got  to  be.  Still  he  would 
give  me  to  understand  that  he  would  presently  "  act  on  my 
case."  And  when  I  would  ask  him  if  any  one  opposed  my  release 
he  would  always  reply  that  "710  one  opj^osed  it." 

I  tried,  time  and  again,  to  get  him  to  "  name  some  point  as 
to  which  he  was  in  doubt  as  to  my  innocence,  and  I  would 
undertake  to  satisfy  him  with  indisputable  proof  as  to  the 
same."  But  this  he  would  never,  never  do.  He  would  speak 
of  the  "  unusual  strength  of  my  petitions,"  and  would  not  say 
that  he  needed  anything  added  thereto  or  any  further  proof  of 
my  innocence,  or  any  further  information  tohatsoever. 

A  person  that  went  to  see  him  in  my  behalf  reported  that 
"  the  Governor  says  your  petitions  are  the  strongest  he  ever  saw," 
and  that  "  from  what  he  said,  I  think  you  will  go  out  in  a  few 
days,"  and  shortly  afterwards  the  Governor  told  me  that  he 
"  would  act  on  my  ease  in  a  few  days,"  and  he  said  it  in  such  a 
manner  that  I  and  others  near  me  thought  that  I  would  surely 
go,  when  I  received  the  following  : 


328  Sruggling  for  Liberty. 

"  Home,.  April  12th,  1881. 

Oh  !  My  Dear  Husband. — I  have  received  a  letter  from  Governor 
[Links]  and  he  gives  me  no  encouragement,  though  he  don't  say  he  -will 
not  release  yon. 

I  was  so  sure  that  he  would  act  favorably.  I  do  not  know  what  to  do 
next.     Oh  I  everything  is  so  dark 

'  I  have  kept  you  ever  in  my  heart,  dear  George, 
Through  months  of  good  and  ill. 
Our  souls  cannot  be  torn  apart. 
They  are  bound  together  still. 

I  never  knew  how  dear  you  were  to  me. 
Till  I  was  left  alone. 

I  thought  my  j)Oor,  poor  heart  would  break 
The  day  they  told  me  you  were  gone. 

Perhaps  we'll  never,  never  meet 
Upon  this  Earth  again. 
But  there,  where  hapj)y  angels  greet, 
You'll  meet  your  Effie  there. 

Together  up  the  ever  shining  shore 

We  will  tread  ^\'ith  trusting  heart; 

Together  through  the  bright  eternal  day. 

And  never  more  to  part. '  Effie.  " 

["The  greatest  affliction  humanity  can  suffer,  is  the  agony  of  prolong- 
ed suspense.'" 

"Corroding  griefs  and  slow  consuming  care, 
'SLe.  firmly  resolved  your  injured  heart  to  tear." 

"Long  as  his  actions  'scape  the  public  view, 
Whatever  his  passions  prompt,  he  dares  to  do. "] 

"Home,  May  10th,  1881. 

But,  Oh!  It  seems  to  me  that  you  will  come.  I  am  with  you  so  often  in  my 
dreams.  Last  night  it  seemed,  it  was  not  a  dream.  I  was  with  you,  and 
the  warm  kisses  seem  to  hnger  yet  on  my  Ups.  You  will  never  be  more 
natural  and  real  in  life,  than  you  were  last  night  in  my  dream 

I  am  sitting  by  the  window,  looking — when  not  writing — on  the  green 
hills  and  the  tall,  gloomy  pines;  they  are  the  only  things  that  do  not 
change — always  the  same — and  thinking  of  the  past. 

Why  does  everything  rise  in  my  mind  so  vividly  this  morning — there 
seems  to  be  a  something  before  me;  it  does  not  seem  to  be  evil  either — I 

almost  dare  to  think  it  is  something  good I  am 

having  the  garden  jjlanted  to-day.  I  think  of  how  we  used  to  make 
garden Do  not  despair,  for  I  think  it  will  end  well  yet. 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  329 

'  Oil,  breathe  not  those  accents,  though  distance  divide  us, 
Though  time  has  been  lavish  with  sorrow  and  years, 
Thou  art  dear  to  me  still — the  past  cannot  chide  us. 
When  we  turn  and  look  back  through  a  vista  of  tears. 

Ah,  yes!  thou  art  dear,  though  the  sunshine  has  faded 
From  off  my  yond  forehead,  while  shadows  of  care, 
Like  the  twilight  of  evening,  my  pathway  has  shaded, 
And  left,  now  and  then,  silver  threads  in  my  hair. 

Speak  not  of  indifference,  while  there  yet  linger, 
The  hopes  and  the  dreams  of  my  earliest  hours. 
While  memory  points  with  her  magical  finger 
To  pathways  whose  thorns  are  all  hidden  in  flowers. 

How  well  I  have  loved  thee  may  never  be  spoken, 

And  now,  even  now,  in  my  early  decline. 

My  hopes  all  dejiarted,  the  heart  that  loves  thee 

Must  ever  be  thine. '  Effie.  " 

\^^  Rare  are  solitary  woes; 

They  love  a  train,  they  tread  each  other^s  heel. " 

"Her  tempted  virtue  unprotected  left, 
Eobbed  of  assistance,  of  each  friend  bereft." 

Friends  wrote  and  urged  tlie  Governor  in  my  belialf  and 
informed  him  of  the  critical  condition  of  my  affairs,  which  was 
being  taken  advantage  of  by  cowardly  devils,  to  distress  and 
ravage  my  home  and  family,  and  that  I  had  no  one  to  protect 
them.  But  there  was  no  honesty  in  his  heart,  and  he  seemed 
to  enjoy  and  gloat  over  such  torture  and  murder.  Of  course, 
he  DID  enjoy  it,  or  he  ivould  not  do  it.  "  Since  will  to  act  and 
action  was  but  one."  And  "there  was  a  laughing  devil  in  his 
sneer."  Rather  than  let  go,  he  would  cut  out  the  tongues  of 
his  victims  so  as  to  escape  their  dying  curses.] 

"  Home,  May  22d,  1881. 
Mt  Deak  Husband  : — [She  is  being  robbed  of  between  three  and 
four  thousand  dollars  by  one  devil  alone,  backed  by  the  gang;  is  being 
got  into  a  stress;  is  gloomy,  discouraged,  distressed  and  embarrassed,  so 
that  ruination  was  surely  evident  if  I  was  not  speedily  released,  as  there 
was  no  one  else  to  avert  it,  and  which  I  frankly  and  plaintively  jilead  to 
the  Governor;  these  letters  to  the  Governor  are  too  plaintive,  entreating 
and  meek  for  me  to  ever  rej^eat.  And  yet  his  conduct  was  so  malignant 
and  brutal,  that  it  flamed  and  maddened  my  wife's  brain,  tore  her  heart 
into  shreds,  filled  her  -wdth  the  very  frenzy  of  despair,  drove  her  insane 
and  cast  her  down,  so  that  she  was  ruined  and  never  herself  anymore.] 


330  Struggling  for  Liberty. 

'  I  know  not  what  shall  befall  me, 
God  hangs  a  mist  o'er  my  eyes; 
And  each  step  in  my  onward  path 
He  makes  new  scenes  to  rise; 
And  every  joy  he  sends  to  me 
Comes  as  a  sweet  sui'prise. 

I  see  not  a  step  before  me, 

As  I  tread  on  another  year; 

But  the  past  is  still  in  God's  keeping, 

The  future  his  mercy  shall  clear; 

And  what  looks  dark  in  the  distance, 

Blay  brighten  as  I  draw  near. 

For,  perhajjs,  the  di-eaded  future 
Has  less  bitter  than  I  think; 
The  Lord  may  sweeten  the  waters 
Before  I  stooj?  to  drink. 
Or,  if  Marrah  must  be  Marrah, 
He  Avill  stand  beside  its  brink. 

It  may  be  he  has  waiting 
For  the  coming  of  my  feet 
Some  gift,  of  such  rare  value, 
Some  joy,  so  strangely  sweet, 
That  my  lips  shall  only  tremble 
With  the  thanks  they  cannot  speak. 

Oh,  restful,  bhssf ul  ignorance, 
'Tis  blessed  not  to  know; 
It  keeps  me  still  in  those  arms. 
Which  Avill  not  let  me  go; 
And  hushes  my  soul  to  rest 
.  In  the  bosom  that  loves  me  so. 

So  I  go  on — not  knowing, 

I  would  not,  if  I  might, 

Bather  walking  with  God  in  the  dark, 

Than  going  alone  in  the  light; 

Bather  walking  with  him  by  faith, 

Than  walking  alone  by  sight. 

My  heart  shrinks  back  from  trials 

Which  the  future  may  disclose; 

Yet  I  never  had  a  sorrow. 

But  what  the  dear  Lord  knows. 

So  I  send  the  coming  tears  back 

With  the  wliispered  word  '  He  knows. ' 

Effte." 


Thrilling  Cokrespondence.  331 

Law  of  Moses. — "If  any  Judge  takes  bribes,  his  punisliment  is  death; 
he  that  overlooks  one  that  offers  him  a  jjetition,  and  this  when  he  is  able 
to  release  him,  he  is  a  gnilli/ pe^'son." 

"  Strike,  if  you  will,  but  hear." 
"The  smallest  worm  -will  turn,  being  trodden  on." 

"  Home,  October  18th,  1881. 

Oh  !  My  Dear  Husband  :— [What 

transpired  and  was  written  within  this  sj^ace  of  time,  and  beyond,  is  too 
distressing,  distracted,  miserable,  tender  and  domestic,  to  note  here,  or 
for  the  profane  and  cold  to  comjirehend  or  regard,  and  enough  cruel  an- 
guish has  already  been  given,  and  is  otherwise  known,  for  such  to  gloat 
over.  She  is  being  governed  by  the  force  of  ci-uel  distress,  and  is  thus 
distrained  in  the  ruinous  crash,  as  to  which  I  cannot  write  any  more,  for 
no  language  or  pen  can  express  it,  and  to  only  think  of  it  is  maddening. 

"  Oh,  pant  not  thus,  for  his  poor  heart  to  bleed." 

' '  Oh,  Virtue  !  I  have  worshijJiJed  thee  as  a  God ;  but  thou  art  the 
slave  of  depravity."     That  is  incapable  of  a  sensation  of  pity. 
She  closes  as  follows  :] 

I  Wllili  EEMEMBER  YOU,  LOVE,  IN  MY  PRAYERS. 

"When  the  curtains  of  night  are  pinned  back  by  the  stars. 

And  the  beautiful  moon  leaps  the  skies. 

And  the  dew  dro^js  of  Heaven  are  kissing  the  rose, 

It  is  then  that  my  memory  flies. 

As  if  on  the  wings  of  some  beautiful  dove, 

In  haste  with  the  message  it  bears, 

To  bring  you  a  kiss  of  affection  and  say, 

'  I  remember  you,  love,  in  my  j)rayers. ' 

Go  where  you  will,  on  land,  or  on  sea, 

I'll  share  all  your  sorrow  and  cares  ; 

And  at  night,  when  I  kneel  by  my  bedside  to  pray, 

I'll  remember  you,  love,  in  my  jorayers. 

I  have  loved  you  too  fondly  to  ever  forget 

The  love  you  have  whispered  to  me. 

And  the  kiss  of  affection,  still  warm  on  my  lips. 

Since  you  told  me  how  true  you  would  be, 

I  know  not  if  fortune  be  fickle  or  friend. 

Or  if  time  on  your  memory  weai-s  ; 

I  know  that  I  love  you  wherever  you  roam, 

And  remember  your  love  in  my  prayers. 

When  heavenly  angels  are  guarding  the  good, 

As  God  has  ordained  them  to  do, 

In  answer  to  prayers  I  have  offered  to  Him, 


332  Struggling  for  Liberty. 


I  know  there  is  one  watclaing  you  ; 

And  may  its  briglit  spirit  be  -nith  yoTi  tliroiigli  life, 

And  guide  you  up  Heaven's  Lriglit  stairs, 

To  meet  Avitli  tlie  one  wlio  lias  loved  you  so  true, 

And  remembered  you,  love,  in  her  prayers.  Effie." 

"  Oh,  Mercedes !  I  liave  tittered  your  name  witli  the  sigh 
of  melancholy,  with  the  groan  of  sorrow,  with  the  last  effort  of 
despair.  I  have  uttered  it  when  frozen  with  cold,  crouched  on 
the  straw  in  my  dungeon ;  I  have  uttered  it,  consumed  with 
heat,  rolling  on  the  stone  floor  of  my  prison ....  I  wept,  I 
cursed — Monte  Cristo. 

In  the  fall  of  1881  the  legislature  convened,  and  a  commit- 
tee of  it  and  the  Governor  visited  the  bastile.  And  while  I  was 
pleading  my  case  to  the  committee,  the  Governor  interrupted, 
telling  me  that  "  all  I  lacked  in  getting  out  ivas  the  Judge,"  so  I 
subsided  as  he  did  not  ivant  my  case  to  he  hioion.  But  the  Judge 
had  refused  to  recommend  or  otherwise  favor  others,  and  stated 
that  he  would  not  solicit  any  one's  pardon,  "  as  that  was  the 
Governor's  province  to  use,  independent  of  the  Judge."  Still 
as  he  had  charged  the  jury  in  my  case  that  the  fight  "  was  more 
like  a  duel  than  anything  else" — which  meant  that  it  did  not 
exceed  manslaughter— and  always  maintained  that  I  ought  not 
to  have  got  more  than  five  years,  and  that  he  would  not  oppose 
my  pardon  at  any  time  before,  and  this  while  not  knowing  hut  a 
part  of  my  case,  I  therefore  felt  that  when  he  should  become 
more  fully  informed,  he  would  fill  the  bill,  and  I  would  go. 
For  "  Hope  springs  eternal  in  the  human  breast,  man  never  is 
but  always  to  be  blest." 

A  friend  who  was  clerk  of  the  court  at  my  farce  of  a  trial, 
and  who  was  now  chief-clerk  of  the  assembly,  wrote  me  from 
Olympia  that  nearly  all  of  the  members  of  the  legislature  would 
sign  a  petition  for  my  release.  And  that  he  had  also  "ex- 
plained my  case  to  the  Governor,  but  he  declined  to  interfere 
with  "  the  judgment  of  the  court,"  but  added  that  he  "  thought 
after  five  years  of  imprisonment  I  would  be  pardoned." 

So  it  was  "  the  Judgment  of  the  court,"  was  it  ? 

But  the  "  Judgment  of  the  court  "  did  not  hother  him  as  to 
other  men  he  had  pardoned. 

In  the  midst  of  his  cruelty  and  the  shrieks  of  agony,  he 


Thrilling  Correspondence.  333 

has  the  gall  to  express  sympathy  (?) — praises  the  Judge,  and 
virtually  confesses  that  he  has  not  yet  "  even  considered  my 
case." — Here  it  is. 

j  "  Territory  of  Washington, 
(  Executive  Department. 

Olympia,  W.  T.,  January  25th,  1882. 

I  have  your  letter  respecting  your  unfortunate  brother, 

Mr.  France,  and  I  assure  you  that  jon  have  my  sympathy,  so  also  his 
family,  and  if  I  could  Avith  propriety  indulge  my  jjersonal  feelings  I  would 
give  him  his  liberty.  He  had  a  fair  and  unprejudiced  trial  by  a  good 
Judge,  and  found  guilty  of  the  crime  for  which  he  suffers,  and  sufficient 
time  has  not  yet  elajased  to  consider  pardon. 

There  are  many  in  the  prison  for  the  same  crime,  and  all  about  equal- 
ly deserving,  so  that  I  cannot  well  select  one.  I  am  soiTy  for  you  and  his 
family;  with  respect  I  am  yours,  Wm.  A.  [Links.]  " 

This  letter  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  rot  given  by  ring  ofl&cials 
to  outsiders.  If  the  prisoners  were  "  all  about  equally  deserv- 
ing "  with  me,  would  a  man  of  any  sense  of  justice  or  humanity 
hold  ANY  of  them  ?  So  he  confesses  to  more  than  I  have  here- 
tofore stated  as  to  the  innocence  of  so  many.  And  he  did  make 
selections,  and  I  have  before  noted  their  character.  And  he  says  I 
"  had  a  fair  and  unprejudiced  trial !  "  When  even  a  juryman 
afterwards  stated  that  a  majority  of  the  jury  were  fixed  against 
me,  and  another  one  stated  that  he  afterwards  found  that 
I  had  committed  no  crime,  unless  it  was  in  "  not  killing  the 
devil  before  he  did." 

I  had  written  to  the  "  good  Judge  "  asking  his  assistance, 
and  proposed  to  have  him  fully  convinced  of  my  entire  inno- 
cence, if  he  would  but  name  the  point  or  phase  as  to  which  he 
thought  me  guilty.  But  he  was  determined  not  to  be  compelled 
to  admit  that  I  had  been  entirely  shanghaied  in  his  court.  So 
he  would  never  give  me  any  such  opportunity  to  do  so.  He 
would  ignore  my  questions  and  propositions  as  to  the  same  as 
follows : 

"  Walla  Walla,  Wash.  Ter.,  January,  1882. 
Mr.  George  W.  France  : — I  have  received  two  letters  from  you,  and 
I  am  sorry  for  you  and  sympathize  Avith  you,  as  I  do  \iith  almost  every 
man  who  is  unfortunate,  whether  in  prison  or  out  of  it.  /  did  not  convict 
you,  it  was  twelve  of  your  countrymen,  who  no  doubt  kneAV  you  better 
than  I. 


334  Struggling  for  Liberty. 

I  gave  you  the  slaortest  sentence  the  law  would  allow.  If  I  could 
have  made  it  five  (5)  years  instead  of  ten,  I  should  have  done  so,  under 
all  the  circumstances,  as  I  told  some  of  your  friends  Avho  came  to  me  with 
a  petition  in  your  behalf,  that  I  thought  your  crime  only  deserved  five 
years  imprisonment. 

You  seem  to  forget  that  a  Judge  has  any  duties  obligatory  upon  his 
conscience.  Not  a  month  passes  but  some  one  is  asking  me  to  recommend 
a  pardon  for  somebody.  Juries  convict,  the  Judge  sentences,  and  the 
Governor  can  pardon  if  he  see  fit.  That  is  his  province,  not  mine.  I 
shall  not  opi^ose  your  pardon,  and  shall  see  that  no  advantage  is  taken  of 
you  in  my  court,  if  I  am  api^rised  of  any  attempt  to  do  so. 

This  is  all  I  can  promise  you,  and  all  I  think  you  can  reasonably  ask. 
Eespectfully  youi-s,  S.  C.  Wingakd.  " 

He  did  prevent  any  further  advantage  being  taken  of  me 
in  his  court,  as  was  attempted  on  account  of  my  duress,  and 
showed  plainly  that  if  a  Judge  is  so  minded,  he  can  see  that  no 
man  is  robbed  in  his  court,  though  he  employ  no  laivyer  and  is  him- 
self absent.  The  whole  horde  of  blackleg  lawyers  should  be 
squelched ;  any  Judge  that  requires  a  litigant  to  employ  or 
trust  one,  is  a  thief  at  heart.  But  this  court  had  been  used  as 
a  tool  against  me  and  mine  by  the  gang  to  such  an  extent  that 
it  was  not  necessary  in  finishing  up  the  job,  if  the  Governor 
would  hold  me  ;  and  he  would. 

So  the  real  judgement  of  the  "  good  court,"  that  the  Gov- 
ernor held  to  be  infallible  as  to  me,  was  a  sentence  of  five  years. 
And  the  sentence  of  ten  years  ivas  there/ore  A  mere  technicality, 
that  none  but  tyrants  would  make  use  of  to  torture,  ravage  and 
destroy. 

More  of  his  Excellency's   rot  to  friends  in  the  States. 

"Teekitoky  of  Washington. — Executive  Department, 

Olympia,  W.  T.,  March  20th,  1882. 

The  letter  is  very  satisfactory.  I  have  no  doubt  of  his  good  character 
up  to  the  time  of  the  crime  for  which  he  suffers.  I  hope  in  time  to  be  able 
to  do  something  for  him. 

The  people  here  make  great  chtmnr  over  pardoning. 

I  am  yours  truly,  W.  A.  [Links.]" 

When  the  people  where  I  lived  and  my  case  was  best 
known  were  almost  unanimous  for  my  restoration,  and  had  so 
petitioned  for  years,  and  many  of  them  also  plead  for  it ;  and, 
moreover,  when  the   Governor  had  so  often  declared  that  "no 


Thkilling  Coreespondence.  335 

one  opposes  yotcr  pardon,'"  who  then  were  the  "  people  "  ivho 
ivouJd  '^clamor"  against  it,  outside  of  the  gang? 

Say  !  who  were  they  ? 

I  had  an  occasion  to  protest  to  the  Governor  the  unreason- 
ableness of  requiring  the  Judge's  recommendation,  when  he 
knew  he  had  made  it  a  rule  not  to  recommend  anybody. 
"Well,"  he  said,  "your  case  has  not  been  fully  ov  formally  made 
out  or  presented  to  me."  Intimating,  I  took  it,  that  I  should 
employ  a  high  priced  agent,  or  linked  middleman,  or  lobbyist, 
to  present  my  case  to  him  in  a  more  inviiing  manner  ;  for  still 
I  could  not  get  Mm  to  name  "a  point  or  phase  as  to  ivhich  he  ivanted 
more  lights  And  I  had  relatives  and  other  friends,  who  were 
likewise  pleading  for  my  release  ;  some  of  whom  did  so  as  re- 
presentatives of  a  whole  community  of  tax  payers.  But  neither 
did  his  excellency  leant  any  information  from  any  of  these.  He 
treated  the  judgement,  will,  and  the  sober  second  thought  of 
the  people  with  contempt — frequently  not  even  making  any 
answer  to  their  true  representatives ;  they  did  not  produce  to 
him  any  mystic  sign ! 

I  had  now  been  meekly  pleading  and  begging  for  about 
three  years  and  had  not  succeeded  in  getting  even  a  respectful 
hearing  or  an  honest  reply;  nor  had  any  of  my  friends. 

I  was  therefore  determined,  if  possible,  that  the  Governor 
should  fully  know  my  case  in  spite  of  himself,  and  to  let  the 
people  judge,  whether  or  not  "  it  was  fully  and  formally  made 
out  and  presented,"  and  also  whether  it  was  truly  done. 

Therefore  I  wrote  the  following  epitome  of  my  case  and 
trouble,  and  had  a  copy  of  it  delivered  to  the  Governor  at 
Olympia  and  endeavored  to  have  it  published  to  the  people. 

But  the  Governor  and  Co.  would  not  allow  the  people  to 
thus  fully  understand  my  case  and  condition,  so  they  squelched  it 
from  the  people. 

"And  "with  necessity,  tlie  tyrants  j^lea, 
Excused  his  de^dlisll  deeds." 

"No  engine  so  sure  as  the  means  we  employ, 
To  ridicule  first  what  we  hope  to  destroy." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Prison  experience,  continued. — An  eijitome  of  mr  life,  case  and  trouble  to 
"the  Governor  and  the  people." — Tlie  only  argmmnt  and  summing  up 
of  my  case  that  was  ever  made. — The  frank  but  fruitless  wail  for  justice 
and  humanity  by  a  victim  shanghaied,  ravaged,  and  languishing  in 
prison. — "  Let  thy  keen  glance  his  hfe  search  through,  and  biing  his 
actions  in  re\'iew,  for  actions  speak  the  man. " — "  While  love  and  peace 
and  social  joy  Avere  there.  Oh,  peace  !  oh,  social  joy  !  Oh,  heaven- 
born  love  !  Were  these  your  haunts  where  murderous  demons  rove  ? 
Distinction  neat  and  nice,  which  lie  between  the  poison'd  chahce  and 
the  stab  unseen." 

"Seatco  Peison,  Washington  Tekkitoky,  April  20th,  1882. 
To  his  Excellency,  Governor   [Links],  and  to  my  countrymen   at  large 
— especially  in  my  own  section  : — 

As  to  "my  case  not  being  fully  or  formally  made  out  or  jjre- 
sented "  at  this  stage,  please  consider  that  neither  I  nor  my  friends 
are  lawyers,  but  that  we  have  feehngs,  and  thought  we  had  sense 
and  character  enough  to  make  so  simjjle  a  case  as  mine  manifest  to 
any  one  disposed  to  "embrace  the  truth  wherever  found."  And 
that  this  is  all  that  would  be  necessary  at  this  stage.  And  now  my  duress 
has  been  so  jirolouged,  that  I  am  destitute  of  means  necessary  to  employ 
exjjeris  to  make  out  a  formal  case  and  jjlea — as  at  a  contested,  technical 
trial.  From  comfortable  circumstances — a  competency — I  have  been  re- 
duced to  want  and  distress — sore  and  cruel.  But  your  Excellency,  in  a 
homely,  awkward  way,  we  thought  it  had  been  shown  and  is  maintained  by 
evidence  given  before,  and  by  and  wit/i  other  facts  proclaimed  and  un- 
quesiioned : 

First. — That  I  was  always  truthfully,  peacefully,  charitably  and 
frankly  disjDosed,  to  a  fault,  and  temi^erate  in  all  things ;  that  I  never 
struck  a  child,  harmed  a  kitten,  killed  a  dog,  or  stoned  a  bird  ;  or  op- 
pressed anyone  because  he  was  unfortunate,  in  trouble,  ignorant  or  poor  ; 
nor  envied  any  one  his  own.  And  would  ever  stand  for  a  fundamental 
truth — though  I  stood  alone  and  then  fell.  Nor  yet  afraid  to  confess  my 
many  eiTors,  wrongs,  or  sins  to  men. 

But  that  these  traits  are  more  of  an  endowment  than  any  fault  of 
mine,  and  if  their  fruits  be  considered  as  e^il,  I  pray  that  they  be  no 
longer  charged  against  me. 

Second. — That  -tt-ithout  molesting  anyone,  and  by  honorable  tod,  I 
made  on  the  outer  border  of  settlement  a  spacious  and  a  haj^i^y  home  of 
high  iirosjiective  value,  and  was  jiossessed  of  plenty  to  the  envj  of  others. 

That  I  possessed  all  of  the  moral,  legal,  technical  and  customary  titles 
and  rights  to  be  had,  to  each  and  every  portion  of  the  same. 

(336) 


Only  Aegument  op  my  Case  ever  Made.  337 

That  it  was  by  hardships,  privations,  and  good  conduct — taking  in  the 
flower  of  my  life — that  I  won  these,  and  that  I  had  every  right  to  inhabit, 
cultivate  and  enjoy  these,  my  own,  and  to  defend  my  life  while  perform- 
ing such  homage. 

Third. — That  a  transient  few  there  were  who  determined  to  possess 
my  proiserty,  and  these — forming  a  chque — waged  on  me  and  have  caused, 
with  their  friends  or  supporters,  all  the  trouble  and  loss  I  have  suflfered, 
and  while  I  was  pursuing  the  even  course  set  forth.  Yet,  they  mostly  were 
friendly  to  my  face  when  we  met,  had  received  favors  at  my  hands, 
and  cannot  maintain  that  I  ever  wronged  any  one  of  them. 

Fourth. — That  one  of  these  would  contest  the  possession  of  a  part  of 
my  home  with  his  rifle,  and  without  having  any  legal,  moral,  or  customary 
right  thereto  whatsoever — had  not  even  instituted  or  filed  any  contest,  and 
I  had  it  enclosed  with  over  ten  thousand  rails. 

That  he  declared  he  would  cultivate  and  hold  this — my  field  and 
plowing — and  that  if  I  "  attempted  to  do  so  he  would  kill  me."  That  he 
swaggered  to  me  and  to  various  others,  from  the  outset  to  the  fight — as 
sworn  to  by  men  and  women  (the  latter  strangers  to  me).  That  he  "  had 
more  backbone  than  me,  did  not  believe  that  I  was  on  the  shoot,  but  if  I 
was  it  was  just  his  hand  ;  "  that  he  "would,  by  the  nape  of  the  neck,  ijiteh 
me  out  of  the  field,  and  if  not  man  enough  without,  would  fix  me  so  he 
could."  That  "  one  or  the  other  of  us  would  die  there."  That  he  "  would 
or  I  must  go  or  come  into  the  field  a  shooting,"  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  and  pro- 
claimed Macbeth's  judgment,  "Damned  be  he  who  first  cries  hold, 
enough !  " 

Yet,  your  Excellency,  he  had  good  traits  withal;  we  frequently  had 
friendly  chats,  and  he  sometimes  sat  at  my  table.  And  I  don't  beheve  he 
would  have  tortured  me  so — during  all  these  troublous,  hapless,  endless 
years  of  agony  and  despair,  and  while  I  was  crying  enough !  enough  ! 
enough  !  He  would  at  least  meet  me  in  an  open  field,  give  me  a  warning 
and  a  partial  show,  and  end  my  misery.  Will  not  your  Excellency  do  as 
much  ?  Do  not  dissect  me  so  with  the  executive  function  of  mercy,  while 
yet  alive  and  in  my  mind — just  because  I  am  ignorant,  awkward,  in  trouble 
and  poor  ;  give  me  some  kind  of  a  trial,  and  show  wherein  I  can  defend  my- 
self against  the  inconsiderate  and  most  unusual  verdict  against  me. 

Fifth. — That  neighbors  warned  me  to  be  aware,  or  Mr.  Jumper  would 
carry  out  his  many  threats  against  my  life,  and  ui'ged  me  to  accept  the 
loan  of  a  little  pistol  to  cany  for  my  defence  when  I  went  to  the  woods, 
where  I  was  hkely  to  meet  him,  and  in  my  field.  I  did  so  and  kept  on  in 
my  usual  course.  That  the  neighbor,  who  loaned  me  his  pistol,  was  inti- 
mate A^ith  Mr.  Jumper,  knew  his  intention  to  kill  me,  and  was  therefore 
afraid  for  his  horses  even,  to  be  in  this  field,  least  they  should  be  shot  by  ac- 
cident when  I  should  go  into  it.  All  of  which  he  and  others  swore  to. 
Bef  erence :  his  Honor  or  clerk  of  my  District  court,  and  the  witnesses  them- 
selves. 

22 


338  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

Sixth. — That  but  two  men  could  be  found  during  a  period  of  over 
nine  (9)  months,  who  would  swear  that  I  had  ever  threatened  Mr.  Jumper 
with  violence,  and  one  of  these  had  enmity  against  me,  because  I  had  re- 
fused him  a  favor — as  not  beheving  him  honest — and,  moreover,  the  inci- 
dent referred  to  was  long  anterior  to  the  fight.  The  other  swore,  I  said 
"  such  men  ought  to  be  hung."  The  former  was  false,  the  latter  true. 
(The  former  is  the  only  neighbor,  I  believe,  within  two  or  three  miles  not 
on  my  petition — if  he  can  be  considered  a  neighbor.)  [On  my  return  I 
said  to  an  old  neighbor,  "don't  half  the  peoiile  consider  him  a  perjured 
scoundi-el  ?  "    "I  guess  all  of  them  do,"  said  he.] 

Seventh. — That  finally  I  applied  to  a  peace  officer  and  preacher  of  the 
word,  to  bind  the  gentleman  over  to  keep  the  peace,  so  he  would  not  mur- 
der me,  and  got  in  reply,  that  "  he  was  indeed  a  \'icious  and  dangerous 
man,  but  that  it  was  simply  en-s^^ — on  account  of  my  prosperity — that 
caused  these  plundering  raids,  and  that  all  things  considered,  his  advice 
to  me,  was  to  be  prepared  to  defend  myself,  and  go  on  about  my  business,  to 
sow  and  cultivate  this  field."  I  simijly  did  so,  as  usual  in  my  even  course. 
^Reference,  his  Honor. 

Eighth. — That  the  following  day — in  company  -with  two  other  men 
(who  were  mutual  friends  as  to  Jumper  and  me — and  who  were  not  armed) 
while  peacefidly  at  work,  sowing  wheat  on  horseback,  in  my  usual  way,  on 
said  portion  of  my  home :  That  the  gentleman,  as  aforesaid,  ha\dng  averred 
he  would  kill  me  at  such  time,  place  and  circumstance,  seeing  us  from  a 
distance,  proceeded  at  oncedii'ect  for  his  sj)encer  carbine,  saying  (at  least), 
"  there  is  going  to  be  trouble,"  [and  that  "/^e  would  kill  me,"]  came  direct 
into  my  field,  ■with  his  gun  cocked,  and  presently  came  to  me  and  made  a 
swaggering,  fierce,  frightful  attack,  "placed  his  cocked  gun  to  his 
shoulder,"  his  finger  on  the  trigger;  said,  "  I  will  kill  you,"  ^^  fired  the  first 
shot,"  "  killed  a  horse  close  by  my  side,"  under  a  man,  who,  "  reaching  back 
struck  the  muzzle  down  the  instant  it  fired."  That  my  pistol  shots  quickly 
followed  this  of  the  carbine,"  and  were  all  fired  in  rapid  succession"  That 
these  ijoints  and  words  as  given  of  the  attack  and  fight  and  position,  were, 
and  are  always  agreed  by,  and  were  sworn  to  by  aU  present  at  the  shooting 
who  were  sworn — three  men — except  that  the  man  by  me  was  so  dazed, 
that  he  did  not  see  or  hear  my  latter  shots.  And  the  rapidity  of  all  the 
shots  was  also  declared  and  sworn  to  by  others  who  were  at  a  distance. 
Reference,  his  Honor  or  clerk.  District  court  and  witnesses  themselves. 

Ninth. — That  when  my  companion  "struck  down  the  gun  with  his 
hand,  he  clung  to  it,  was  struck  on  or  against  his  head  with  the  butt, 
dazed,  jerked  off  his  sinking  horse,  and  a  frantic  struggle  followed  for 
control  of  the  gun." 

That  "  neither  said  com^Danion  nor  any  other  man  had  a  hand  or  a  fin- 
ger on  to  Jumper  at  any  time,"  but  "  only  hung  on  or  clung  to  the  gun." 

That  said  companion  at  one  time  "  duringthe  stniggle,  was  flat  down," 
and  one  hand  was  torn  quite  to  the  bone.     These  points  and  language 


Only  Akgument  op  my  Case  ever  Ma.de.  339 

■were  and  are  also  establislied  and  maintained  as  aforesaid.     Same  refer- 
ence. 

Tenth. — That  dtuing  the  struggle  for  control  of  the  gun  and  Hfethey 
(Jumper  and  said  near  companion)  were  in  most  all  positions  ;  that  it  is 
disputed  whether  Jumper  was  entirely  down  at  any  time,  and  I  don't  be- 
lieve that  anybody  really  knows,  beyond  a  doubt,  certain,  on  account  of 
the  confusion  and  excitement  of  men  and  horses  in  the  way,  but  all  pres- 
ent agreed  that  my  comj^anion  was  down  ;  he  swore  to  it,  and  he  was  cov- 
ered with  dii't  and  bruised,  and  xoas  jerked  by  the  gun  ten  to  fifteen  yards 
over  the  ground — Jumper's  way — in  one  position  or  another,  when  my  other 
companion  (from  about  fifteen  yards  away)  possessed  courage,  by  my  cries 
for  help,  to  approach  and  grasp  the  again  cocked  carbine,  and  was — after  a 
parley — given  possession  of  it  by  Jumper  "as  a  friend,"  when  all  violence 
ended,  and  we  travelled  our  separate  ways. 

These  jjoints  were  not  disputed — except  as  to  the  one  as  aforesaid — 
but  I  submit  that  the  other  points  prove,  that  Jumper  could  not  have 
been  down  very  much,  and  not  at  all  until  after  the  shootikg  was  done. 
And,  moreover,  that  he  was  active,  strong  and  dangerous  to  the  end  of  the 
struggle. 

And  what !  I  ask  in  reason — or  instinct  even — would  he  evidently  have 
done  had  he  less  than  four  pistol  balls  into  him  ?  Was  he  not  evidently, 
indeed,  trying  to  kUl  me  all  this  time  ?  or  was  it  his  unarmed  friends  he 
was  after  ?  or  who  ?  or  what  ?  And  is  a  cocked  carbine,  in  such  hands  and 
power,  and  declared  and  acted  intent  enticing  ?  or  is  it  frightful  all  such 
time  to  one  it  is  meant  for  ? 

Was  I  not,  therefore,  naturally  and  reasonably  in  fear  of  my  life 
during  all  of  such  time  ? 

Eleventh. — That  even  after  I  was  done  shooting,  I  was  "perfectly 
wild  "  with  fear,  and  cried  out  to  witness  ("the  friend  ")  to  ^'for  God's 
sake  help  ws." 

And  in  reason  I  submit,  if  such  an  attack  would  not  frighten  almost 
a  cast-iron  man  ?     If  not,  what  icoidd? 

That  tins,  proves  that  I  was  still  in  fear  of  my  life,  and  therefore  did  not 
shoot  as  often  or  long  as  in  law  one  is  justified  in  shooting  in  self-defense  in 
such  a  case  and  under  such  circumstances.  Reference,  any  standard  appropri- 
ate law  and  most  universal  precedent.  And  as  to  which,  permit  me  to  but  re- 
peat the  words  afterwards  averred  and  yet  maintained  by  an  aged  Divine, 
of  excellent  repute,  who  knew  us  both,  and  the  ground,  and  the  fight. 
That,  "  were  he  in  my  place,  he  would  be  shooting  yet."  And  by  one  of 
the  party  present — who  is  now  a  justice  of  the  peace — and  which  was 
sworn  to  by  others  as  well,  that  "  he  (I)  should  have  shot  him  forty  times 
instead  of  four." 

Twelfth. — That,  after  the  fight,  this — now  officer  of  peace  and  justice 
— declared  to  me  and  to  others,  that  this  carbine  shot  "was  aimed  at  France's 


340  An  EpiTOivrE  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

(my)  lieart,  and  his  striking  down  tlie  gun  saved  his  (my)  life  " — which  is 
true. 

That  (Mr.  Jumper  not  appearing  much  hurt)  he  (L . . )  and  I  swore  out 
a  warrant  for  his  arrest  (and  two  men — not  us — were  empowered  to  make  it, 
and  in  Avhich  he  swore  that  said  shot  was  aimed  at  me,  and  he  so  declared 
at  various  times,  to  various  persons, /or  some  nine  months  tliereafter,  as  did 
the  other  mtness  also,  as  proven  by  documents  heretofore  submitted  as  to 
each  and  the  same,  and  which  is,  moreover,  evident  hy  all  the  physical, 
inherent  and  circumstantial  proof  he&rmg  on  the  same,  and  which  I  think  I 
can  say  was  not  disputed,  and  was  certainly  never  refuted. 

Thirteenth. — That  when  death,  however,  had  resulted,  I  proceeded  to 
the  justice  and  requested  an  examination,  expecting,  of  course,  an  honor- 
able acquittal.  But  the  before  noted  cUque  came  to  a  hving  man — this 
being  their  oiDportunity — sent  for  a  shark  lawyer  to  work  in  the  tricks  of 
the  trade,  made  him  also  clerk  of  tlie  court,  delayed  proceedings  (without 
notice  to  me)  till  running  it  past  the  middle  of  the  night,  and  swore,  or 
courted  "  evidence  "  (?)  of  things  so  physically  impossible  and  morally  im- 
probable and  untrue — on  account  of  distance  and  the  physiology  of  man 
— and  conflicting  ivithal,  and  which  measurement  and  a  little  reasoiiing 
would  pick  to  pieces,  break  in  flinders,  and  make  plain  to  even  a  child  ; 
that,  therefore,  on  account  of  the  [masonic]  indignity  of  the  honorable 
court,  I  was  not  sworn  at  all,  nor  was  anyone  who  was  present  at  the 
shooting,  or  nearer  than — according  to  their  own  guess — from  70  to  140 
yards,  and  which  distance  I  will  further  on  refer  to  more  fully. 

That  Jumper  was  not  sworn,  with  plenty  of  opportunity,  time  and 
vigilance,  and  that  the  others  who  were  really  the  only  living  persons  who 
were  present  at  the  shooting  and  coidd  know  the  fight,  were — with  one  of 
their  own  who  wanted  to  tell  the  truth — unjustly  and  perniciously  cast  off 
\iiot  allowed  to  testify] . 

And  this  is  the  mould,  by  which  they  would  cast  pubUc  opinion,  and 
from  it  they  did  cast  me  into  prison  thirty  miles  away,  and  reports  that  I 
had  "murdered"  the  gentleman.  And  then,  moreover,  cast  my  indict- 
ment from  this  mould  alone.     [No  one  who  was  at  the  shooting  was 

AliliOWED  TO  TESTIFY   BEFORE    THE  GRAND  JURY.]       Kcfcrence,  his   HoUOr    of 

the  justice  court  and  others. 

On  account  of  my  ignorance  of  men,  and  my  duress — thus  caused — I 
failed  to  get  this  court  on  the  stand  at  my  "  trial  "  (?),  but  as  it  presently 
petitioned  for  executive  clemency,  I  will  presume  it  thought  this  would  do 
as  well,  which  sadly  displays  a  lack  of  knowledge  as  to  the  effect  of  prayer 
on  the  human  [«'?/ human]  heart. 

Fourteenth. — That  a  sample  of  the  material  or  stuff,  composing  this 
mould — from  which  were  cast  the  forms  of  commitment,  indictment  and 
verdict — by  which  to  opjjress  and  rob  me  in  the  name  of  the  people,  law 
and  of  justice,  is  found  of  these  distance  witnesses,  wherein  is  named — as 
numbered — the  httle  bullets,  as  belonging  to  my  respective  discharges,  as  hy 


Only  Argument  of  my  Case  ever  Made.         341 

numbers  from  one  {1)  to  four,  each  to  each  respectively  !  unth  men  or  horses 
intervening,  and  the  shots  fired  in  rapid  succession  in  a  furious  fight,  and 
when,  moreover,  two  of  us  who  were  present  did  not  know  they  hit  at  all ! 

And  again,  in  swearing  to  words,  as  urging  me  to  greater  action,  when 
by  location  and  time — marked  by  themselves — the  distinction  of  words  was 
beyond  the  reach  of  human  hearing,  as  far  and  certain  as  to  see  the  little 
bullets  hit  was  of  human  vision.  And  as  though  there  was  any  time  or 
impulse  for  talk  in  the  dash  of  the  frightful  life  and  death  conflict. 

And  thus  can  all  that  was  sworn  against  me  be  refuted — even  by  its 
own — if  considered  with  a  passive  mind,  and  be  governed  with  reason,  and 
the  same  standard  accorded  others  in  similar  cases. 

When  thus  shanghaied,  I  fooHshly  declared  that  I  "would  not  care  a 
stiver  for  a  ton  of  such  stuff. "  But  I  thought  that  reason  Skudi  justice  would 
next  prevail  if  I  employed  experts  to  defend  me,  [but,  fatal  to  me,  they 
were  secret  brethren  themselves] . 

Fifteenth. — That  his  Honor  of  the  District  court  being  presently  made 
known  of  the  fraudulent  manner  in  which  I  was  held  in  duress,  kindly 
sent  me  word  that  he  '  'would  issue  a  writ  and  give  me  an  examination — 
(which  by  law  and  usage  I  was  entitled  to)  either  at  Dayton  or  Walla 
Walla,  as  I  chose."  But  never  having  been  in  court  troubles  before,  I 
meanwhile,  hastily  and  ignorantly,  was  persuaded  to  trust,  what  proved  to 
be  my  all  to  others  [shysters],  and,  therefore,  I  did  not  get  any  examina- 
tion, hearing,  or  trial,  for  over  nine  (9)  months.  And  then  I  did  not  in 
the  usual  sense  and  meaning  of  those  words,  and  thus  have  I  not,  at  an  y 
time  during  viy  trouble,  had  a  fair  show,  or  deal,  or  hearing,  or  justice,  in 
any  court  or  by  the  pubHc.  And  which  I  swear  to  be  true,  and  will 
further  point  it  out,  so  that  any  one  who  may  read  this  showing  may  know 
it  also.  But  that,  however,  the  chief  points  which  I  have  given,  besides 
others  I  will  give,  have  been  established  beyond  reasonable  disjjute,  as  be- 
fore shown,  and  none  of  them  could,  or  can  ever  be  refuted  when  the  phy- 
sical and  inherent  evidence  and  undisputed  circumstances  bearing  on  the 
same  are  duly  considered  withal,  and  in  bid  a  few  of  these  points  it  can 
readily  be  seen  evident,  that  there  could  not  and  can  not  he  any  real  case  at  all 
against  me. 

That  the  only  plausible  theory  set  forth,  and  point  formally  made  for 
my  conviction  at  my  "trial"  (?)  is  by  a  preponderance  of  personal  evi- 
dence alone,  in  diverting  the  aim  of  the  murderous  carbine  from  ' '  my 
heart"  to  the  life  of  another,  with  whom  Mr.  Jumper  was  on  friendly 
terms,  with  whom  he  had  no  quarrel,  against  whom  he  had  made  never  a 
threat,  and  to  whom  he  had  but  recently  pi'esented  a  token  of  regard,  and 
who  teas  unarmed.  On  which  account  he  was  with  me  there,  he  thinking 
he  could  therefore  persuade  Jumper  from  his  declared  intent  to  kill  me  on 
this  jjarticular  occasion,  and  they  did  respectively  try  to  do  so. 

But  with  my  jjroven  state  of  fear  of  danger,  alone.  How  !  by  what 
law  !  or  precedent  !  or  standard  !  can  such  point  be  held  against  me  ? 


342  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

^]lio  is  to  be  the  Judge,  as  to  such  danger,  when  f^e  effect  is  established ? 
Suppose  the  gun  was  not  loaded  (even  the  magazine  was  filled  for 
the  purpose)  or  that  it  was  a  wooden  gun,  or  that  he  was  only  shooting  at 
my  hat,  or  my  horse,  or  at  "nothing  "  (?),  but  a  mutual,  unarmed  friend  and 
2)eacemakei- !  Or  that  he  was  only  in  sport  to  see  me  run  ! 

That  it  does  not — in  even  justice  and  law — make  any  difference  what 
any  one  else  might  think — or  claim  to  think — just  so  that  /  was  impressed 
with  danger.  And  was  there  ever  a  being,  cast  in  human  shape,  who  would 
not  be  so  impressed  under  the  force,  and  in  the  cuiTent  of  such  an  attack  ? 

That,  moreover,  if  such  point  had  been  reasonably  [and  without  cor- 
ruption] established:  That  it  is  a  narrow  and  uneven  cause  to  work  all  the 
oppression  and  torture  and  wreck  that  has  been  done.  As  to  which  I  beg 
to  submit  the  judgment  of  a  court  in  a  State,  where  "  good  is  not  so  fre- 
quently called  evil,  and  e\dl  good,"  where  sharks  and  cutthroats  cannot 
and  do  not  ravage  hard-earned  homes  and  altars  with  imijunity,  in  the 
guise  of  justice,  and  cause  their  victims  to  beg  for  life,  and  in  vain.  Ac- 
cording to  the  press,  at  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  May  1st,  1880,  William 
Dalzell,  his  son  being  with  him,  shot  and  killed  Joseph  Van  Houten,  who 
was  one  of  a  picnic  party  trespassing  on  Dalzell's  land.  It  did  not  ai^pear 
that  the  trespasser  had  any  \dcious  intention,  motive,  or  imijulse,  or  that  he 
was  armed.  He  was  there  only  to  have  a  good,  social  time,  with  his 
intended  wife,  in  a  May  party  of  his  friends.  But  in  going  to  the  picnic 
grounds  they  persisted  in  jaassing  through  Dalzell's  field,  who  thereupon 
shot  Van  Houten  dead. 

Judge  Dixon,  in  charging  and  laying  down  the  case  to  the  grand  jury 
— according  to  the  press — said,  in  the  following  words  :  "If  Dalzell  fired 
the  gun  simply  in  i^rotection  of  his  property  against  trespassers,  he  is  guilty 
of  murder.  But,  if  the  trespassers  assailed  him  and  jjut  his  own  ur  his 
son's  life  in  danger,  or  caused  in  them  fear  of  serious  bodily  injury,  and 
the  shot  was  fired  to  prevent  this,  then  it  would  be  excusable  homicide,  the 
act  having  been  committed  in  self-defense." 

Dalzell  was  indicted  for  manslaughter  and  bailed  out  to  attend  to  his 
business,  and  prej^are  for  trial.  And  here  follows  the  outcome  in  the  words 
of  the  associated  press  : 

"William  Dalzell,  the  infuriated  farmer  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  who 
shot  and  killed  Joseph  Van  Houten  last  May,  for  (as  one  of  a  picnic  party) 
invading  his  farm,  and  who  came  near  being  lynched  at  the  time  by  the 
enraged  companions  of  Van  Houten,  has  just  emerged  from  his  trial  with 
a  verdict  of  *  not  guilty. '  He  siicceeded  in  getting  a  juiy  of  Bergen 
County  farmers;  as  a  chief  point  in  the  defense  was  that  a  man  has  a  right 
to  defend  his  property  from  trespassers,  and  on  this  point  the  farmers  were 
a  unit  in  Dalzell's  favor." 

Now  suppose  Van  Houten  had  made  an  attack  on  Dalzell  with  a  cocked 
carbine  in  both  hands,  andjired  the  first  shot — after  having  declaredhe  would  kill 
him,  on  that  very  occasion;  and  that  after  nine  months  [dirty]  Avork  by  the 


Only  Argument  op  my  Case  ever  Made.  343 

tricks  of  a  [secret]  clique  of  sharks,  it  was  made  to  appear  that  Van  Houten 
was  "oM(y"  trying  to  murder  Dalzell's  son.  What  do  these  sharks  take 
the  yeomanry  and  homebuilders  of  this  country /or  anyway  ?  It  will  thus 
be  seen,  that  according  to  "  Jersey  Justice, "  were  I  having  a  fair  deal  and 
almost  give  the  prosecution  all  they  ever  claimed  as  a  Avhole — with  the 
sh/ff  awovn  and  vented — I  would  not  have  been  held  at  all,  or  the  first 
nail  driven  in  my  coffin. 

And  I  would  respectfully  submit,  Avhether  any  man  has  succeeded  i.; 
making  and  holding  a  home — worth  envying — in  this  country,  if  it  was  noi 
beheved  he  would  fight  to  defend  it.  And  if  it  will  be  possible  to  do  so, 
if  the  sharks  are  supjiorted  and  backed  by  the  power  of  Government, 
not  disputing  the  "infallibility  of  the  courts,"  but  as  a  matter  of  experience 
and  fad  in  the  history  of  the  settling  and  habitation  of  this  country.  Will  men 
work  the  best  part  of  their  Hves  in  making  and  earning  homes,  if  they  can 
jump  or  wreck  those  already  done  with  safety  and  security  and  even 
veneration  ? 

As  to  which  I  would  refer  to  the  reports  of  the  shotgun,  i-ifle,  pistol 
and  strife  throughout  this  countiy. 

That,  had  such  "Jersey  Justice"  been  proclaimed  by  Executive  and 
courts,  my  trouble  and  also  that  of  several  others  in  my  section — since 
been  made — would  not  hkely  have  occurred.  Or  had  I  been  known  as  a 
vicious,  reckless  man,  or  as  having  such  in  my  employ,  as  many  do,  I 
would  not  now  be  pleading  for  my  life  at  your  Excellency's  feet. 

That  Mr.  Jumper  had  just  previously  undertaken  to  jumi)  another 
man's  claim,  but  being  at  the  outset  met  in  kind,  he  found  it  to  be  a 
stump  he  was  jumping  against,  without  shooting  into  it,  so  there  was  not 
much  trouble  there. 

That  there  was  a  man  living  with  Jumijer  i^revious  to  and  at  the  time 
of  our  fight;  that  he  therefore  reasonably  knew  more  of  his  intention, 
manner  and  motive,  than  any  other  man.  That  he  also  closely  followed 
Jumper  into  the  field  and  witnessed  the  fight  as  closely  anyway  as  the  •prin- 
cipal prosecuting  soilness.  That  they  subpoenaed  this  witness  and  placed 
him  on  the  stand  at  the  so-called  preliminary  examination ;  that  he  was 
disjiosed  to  tell  the  truth  as  far  as  he  knew;  swore,  he  "did  not  know  the 
number  of  pistol  or  carbine  shots,  as  they  were  fired  so  near  together  and 
rapidly,  that  it  was  a  fierce,  hot,  mixed-up  fight,"  etc.  (I  should  say  so, 
with  bounding  horses,  men  and  fire,)  "  but,  that  there  were  more  pistol  than 
carbine  shots,"  and  that,  on  account  of  the  distance,  he  could  not  recog- 
nize us  as  the  men  engaged,  though  dressed. the  same  as  at  the  fight. 
That  their  lawyer  and  clerk-of-the-court  then  quickly  and  abruptly  dropp- 
ed this  companion  and  eye  witness — blurting  out  that  ^^  another  such  xoit- 
ness  willthrolo  us  out  of  court."  (?) 

Whereupon  the  sheriff  and  others  said  to  me  that  '■'he  loould  be  my  best 
rvitness.'"  Certainly,  he  reasonably  knew  as  much  as  either  of  the  other 
two   "distance"  witnesses.      Certainly,  he  would  hold  them  level  in  their 


344  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles. 


future  swearing;  and  it  made  liiin  mad  (saying,  "how,  tlie  hell,  couiiD 
I  tell  in  such  confusimi  and  at  such  a  distcmce")  when  they  insinTiated 
that  he  ought  to  swear  something,  that  would  appear  damaging  to  me,  not- 
withstanding the  distance  and  nature  of  the  fight,  and  it  being  so  plain  in 
my  favor  on  its  face  and  back  and  bottom,  and  which  he  did  htow. 

That,  moreover,  they  also  dropped  him  out,  when  binding  their  other 
witnesses  to  appear  at  the  District  Court.  And  that,  I  being  left  in  duress, 
remember,  thus  compelling  me  to  trust  to  others,  I  therefore  utterly  failed 
in  secuiing  him,  and  he  disappeared  before  my  trial  (?). 

If  I  was  getting  a  square  deal  (which,  however,  no  one  to  my  knoAvl- 
edge  has  had  the  hardihood  to  seriously  declare),  then  why,  oh  why!  was 
not  such  a  witness  secured,  jjlaced  on  the  stand  before  both  the  Grand  and 
Petit  Juries,  and  told  to  tell,  in  his  own  way,  all  that  he  did  know  about 
the  tragedy,  and  everything  ajjiaertaining  thereto,  befoke  and  after,  and 
then  LET  HIM  TEiiii  IT  ?  And  then  sift  the  wheat  from  the  chaff,  if  any 
chaff  there  be. 

That  any  man  who  will  not  consider  such  sample  circumstances  as 
proof  of  a  crooked  deal  and  swindle,  to  be  rej)udiated,  should  not  com- 
plain if  ever  he  be  judged  in  kind. 

That  the  most  sacred  projDerty  and  abode  known  to  man  or  animals  is 
that  of  home!  That  doubly  sacred  are  these,  when  they  be  made,  fashion- 
ed and  won  by  one's  own  honorable  and  persistent  toil !  That  the  most 
sacred  law  and  imjaulse,  and  truth — of  instinct,  of  God  and  of  man — is  that  of 
defense  of  one's  life,  while  worshipping  on  such  an  altar  !  That  no  law  of 
God,  or  of  man,  or  of  honor — decently  meted  out — requires  one  to  run 
from  such  an  altar,  or  swerve  while  engaged  in  such  homage. 

Your  Excellency !  I  projiose  to  further  notice,  meet  and  embrace,  in 
refutation,  the  most  extreme  points,  stuff  and  tattle,  ever  set  uj^  or  insinu- 
ated against  me  as  crime — morally  or  technically — at  any  stage  of  the 
trouble  and  as  to  every  phase  of  the  same,  by  considering  them  and  it,  as 
bunched  together  and  as  separated;  and  then  showing  four  germane  and 
fundamental  points  and  principles,  that  they  are  established  in  my  favor 
and  recorded,  and  can  be  again  and  again;  and  which  must  refute  beyond 
reasonable  and  fair  dispute  all  such  matter. 

I  think  that  most  any  one  while  engaged  in  earning  and  making  a 
home  should  derive  sense  enough  even  from  horses,  calves,  children  and 
the  Indians  about  him,  to  enable  him  to  roughly  portray  a  standard  under 
which  he  can  perform  his  homage  in  safety  from  carbines,  sharks  and  the 
function  of  mercy.  But  I  can  only  do  this  in  my  own,  simple,  awkward, 
frank,  homely  way,  and  in  stinging  duress! 

First  i^oint  or  reason  of  the  "  four." 

That  I  had  a  moral  and  technical  right  to  be  there  and  on  the  hapless 
spot,  which  is  my  intention  and  purpose,  my  course  in  Hfe — what  was  in 
my  heart  and  bones. 

Second  j^oiut  and  reason. 


Ont.y  Argument  op  my  Case  ever  Made.  345 

That  I  had  a  moral  and  technical  right,  cause  and  reason — in  common 
prudence — to  be  armed,  and  have  my  pistol  grasped  in  my  hand  for  action 
immediately  preceding  my  shooting;  this  is  my  conduct,  good  or  bad,  wise 
or  otherwise,  as  to  the  fight. 

Third  point. 

The  motive  and  imptdse  causing  action  in  the  shooting. 

Fourth  jioint. 

The  state  of  fear,  which  is  that  of  instinct,  as  I  understand  these 
things. 

Eighteenth. — That  the  principal  prosecuting  and  oflScious  witness  was, 
as  before  shown,  too  distant  to  reasonably  or  physically  know  much  about 
the  fight,  or  anything  as  to  disputed  points  or  matter,  or  more  at  least, 
than  the  witness  whom  they  rejected,  discarded  mid  cast  away;  because  they 
were  together  at  the  outset,  and  neither  approached  to  aid  either  of  us  (and 
on  account  of  the  brevity  of  the  shooting  dash,  and  the  perplexity  of 
motion  and  increased  danger,  such  approach  would  not  increase  their  op- 
portunity of  knowledge  anyhow).  And,  moreover,  as  heretofore  shown, 
the  "cast  away  "  swore  it  to  be  ivipossible  to  define  the  fight,  on  account  of 
its  fury  and  nature  "a<  such  a  distance.^''  And,  moreover,  no  one  testified, 
(or  claimed  that  I  know  of)  to  seeing  this  principal,  officious  and  linked 
witness  during  the  fight.  (The  evidence  of  the  "castaway"  would,  of  course, 
have  been  valuable  to  me  on  this  jjoint  also. )  And  the  first  time  any  of  us  three 
saw  anything  of  him — from  a  time  before  the  fight — was,  as  we  left  the 
field  immediately  after  it,  at  a  place  half  a  mile  from  the  fatal  spot;  and 
then  we  met  him  coming  from  a  different  direction  to  us/br  to  enqxdre  as  to 
the  fight!  Of  one  of  us,  further  on  ahead,  this  source  of  so  much  linked 
m,isinformntion  inqvdred:  "  Are  yoti  shot ?  "  "  Is  France  shot ?  "  Etc.,  etc. 
And,  moreover,  the  places  he  had  been  and  the  words  besides  which  he 
had  spoken  to  others,  ("that  I  was  shot  anyway,")  and  the  long  distance 
he  had  travelled,  and  time — with  other  proof  to  be  had — would  show  that 
this  witness  run  like  a  deer,  on  the  first  fire  or  before,  and  which  sho"sving  of 
itself  would  have  shattered  the  so-called  case  (?)  of  the  prosecution  from 
the  outset — the  comm,itment,  indictment,  and  duress — had  I  belonged  to  a 
shark  gang,  instead  of  being  but  a  peaceable  tiller  of  the  soil. 

In  which  case  it  was  "  not  considered  necessary  or  worth  bothering 
with  ;  "  notwithstanding  I  had  paid  a  thousand  dollars  to  have  such  tpork 
done,  (all  of  which,  had  I  not  been  traitorously  held  in  duress,  I  could 
have  done  myself  with  less  labor  and  skill  than  is  required  to  plow  twenty 
acres  of  ground — ^a  $30  job).  And  the  "castaway"  swore  that  "he  run 
for  some  timber  "  to  get  away  from  the  carbine,  and  his  companion  surely 
and  evidently  run  for  shelter  also.  And,  moreover,  if  I  would — as  I  -svill 
do  in  one  place  and  another — show  that  this  "  distance  "  ■ndtness  and  the 
other  distance  one — who  together  constituted  m,y  commitme^it,  indictment 
and  duress,  and  the  source  of  lying,  perjured  misinformation — woiild  mur- 
der me  in  my  field,  would  this  even  be  any  help  to  a  "  haymaker,"  or  must 


346  An  EpiTOiiE  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

such  practice  and  malicious  slander  emanating  therefrom,  be  varnished 
for  all  time  with  my  blood  ? 

That  I  had  just  previous  to  the  fight  offended  said  officious  and  distance 
■witness  by  refusing  him  a  favor — a  matter  of  several  hundred  doUars  to  him 
— and  that  we  Avere  not  on  friendly  terms  anyway,  but  that  yet  he  was  where 
he  was  (in  the  field)  to  get  my  answer  as  to  said  favor,  and  by  7ni/  special 
request.  Now,  was  I  such  a  lunatic  as  to  place  an  enemy  on  the  scene  if  I 
had  intended,  or  had  ani/  inte)ition,  to  "  murder  "  his  linked  friend  ?  And, 
moreover,  to  ofiend  him  just  before  I  intended  to  do  it  ?  And,  further- 
more yet,  to  at  the  same  time  ask  him  to  go  "with  me  close  to  his  linked 
friend,  which  would  be  to  see  me  do  it  more  plainly  (which  I  will  show  that 
I  did).  If  s©,  then  why  was  I  not  caressed  and  sent  to  an  asylum  adapted 
to  idiots,  instead  of  shanghaiing  me  to  hades  for  toi'ture  or  executive 
charity  ? 

That  when  Mr.  Jumper  first  aj^peared  in  my  field  and  was  approaching 
one  of  my  men  who  was  at  his  work,  that  this  witness  exclaimed  to  me, 
"  There  comes  [Jumj^ei-]  now  with  a  gun!  "  that  I  answered,  "Let  us  go  out 
and  see  what  he  is  going  to  do  with  it !  "  that  he  answered  me,  saying,  "  / 
don't  care  a  damn  !  what  he  does  with  it !  "  and  did  not  accompany  me,  all  of 
•which  he  admitted  on  the  stand  to  be  true.  Same  reference  as  heretofore. 
And  that  presently,  after  following  me  and  one  of  my  companions  around 
(as  we  sowed  wheat)  and  f aihng  to  frighten,  swagger  and  drive  us  out  of 
the  field — from  my  homage — Avith  his  cocked  carbine  in  both  hands, 
that  the  gentleman  then  gave  it  up  and  left  us,  to  have  a  talk  with  said 
linked  witness  at  the  place  I  had  left  him.  And  as  to  which  talk  or 
conference,  excej)t  that  it  was  had,  nothing  transpired — unless  it  be  in  the 
conduct  that  folio  wed  it.  But  had  he  been  an  unprejudiced  and  honest  wit- 
ness, would  he  not  have  tried  to  avert  the  attack  of  his  friend?  And  had 
he  done  this  would  it  not  have  so  transjjii'ed  ?  That  then /ro??i  this  icitness 
Mr.  Jumper,  em-aged  and  thii-sting  for  my  blood,  proceeds  to  my  other 
companion  ("  his  friend  ")  at  work,  asking  him  "  as  a  friend  "  to  "  leave  the 
field,  fur  there  is  going  to  be  trouble!"  that  he  then  struck  direct  to  me 
and  my  other  comijanion,  close  together  and  peacefully  at  work  on  my 
altar,  and  belching  out  a  stream  of  furious,  raging  profanity,  made  his 
final  attack,  jumping  against  a  stump  that  had  not  swaggered  and  which  he 
had  found  would  not  quail,  {the  whole  case  in  a  single  sentence).  "Which 
frightful  display,  from  the  outset  to  the  fight,  as  well  as  the  relative  posi- 
tions— especially  that  we  two  (Lay  and  I)  were  close  together  at  work 
when  he  made  the  final  attack,  as  we  had  been  all  the  time  since  I  had 
gone  to  him  at  the  onset,  or  first  attack,  was  agreed  and  sworn  to  by  all 
present  who  were  sworn — three  men.  Same  reference  as  before,  and  "v^it- 
nesses  themselves. 

That  my  companions  were  veteran  soldiers  and  brave  men,  and  averred 
that  they  had  never  witnessed  a  more  frightful,  hideous,  wicked  attack  by 
any  man.     Witnesses  themselves  and  the  evidence. 


Only  Argument  of  my  Case  ever  Made.  347 

Had  I  reason  and  cause  and  right  to  grasp  my  pistol? 

And  -wdthal,  when  in  close  succession,  "  lie  put  his  cocked  gun  to  his 
shoulder"  (No.  1),  "his  finger  on  the  trigger!"  (No.  2),  and  I  stared  in 
the  muzzle  !  and  "  he  said,  I  will  kill  you  !  "  (No.  3),  "  and  fii-ed  "  (No.  4), 
"  the  gun  being  struck  down  the  same  instant  it  fired  !  "  (Point  5). 

Had  I  the  right  ?  accorded  to  other  men,  to  return  the  fire  ?  repel  the 
attack  ?  shoot  into  the  frightful,  fatal  danger  ?  And  with  all  the  rapidity, 
impulse,  force,  steam  and  j^ower,  which  he  himself  thus  transmitted  and 
fired  into  me  ? 

That  these  five  numbered  jjoints  were  always  agreed  and  sworn  to  to 
the  letter,  by  all  who  were  present  at  the  shooting,  who  were  sworn,  three 
men,  unquestioned  as  to  reputed  veracity.  Same  reference,  and  Avitnesses 
themselves. 

What  ?  Oh  !  What  ?  am  I  and  my  friends — who  know  these  sworn 
facts — taken  for  ?  And  am  I  being  held  in  duress  to  justify  and  liide  in 
my  grave  the  brutal  crimes  of  criminals  !  or  Avhat  ?  Why  !  am  I  thus 
butchered  ? 

Nineteenth. — That  there  was  but  one  other  witness,  besides  the  distance 
and  prejudiced,  offended  and  absent  one  before  noted,  who  was  not 
present  at  the  shooting,  who  pretended  to  define  the  fight,  or  sijlit  hairs  as 
to  the  same.  And  this  other  one  was  Jumper's  partner,  in  the  fullest 
sense  of  the  word,  and  swore  to  being  outside  of  the  field  when  the  shoot- 
ing commenced,  and  guessed  at  the  distance  to  be  "  about  seventy  yards  " 
at  my  "  trial"  (?)  or  "  about  half  the  distance  of  the  other  one." 

Now  what  minute  part,  in  physical  reason,  coidd  such  witness  define 
in  truth,  within  the  succeeding  few  seconds  of  the  shooting  dash,  as  to  the 
same,  and  -svith  the  fire,  sound,  men,  horses,  smoke  and  fury  in  the  way  ? 
How  many  Httle  bullets  or  hairs  could  be  seen,  split,  placed,  and  numbered 
(as  "from  1  to  4")  and  exact  positions  of  gun,  men,  and  other  things, 
comprehended  ?  And  words  understood  and  all  fixed  in  the  mind  in  the 
few  seconds  of  such  a  shooting  dash  ?  In  such  space  of  bewilderment  of 
any  one's  brain,  within  range  or  reach  of  the  fire  and  fury  ? 

Great  Heavens  !  what  faculty  of  vision  ?  of  hearing  ?  of  comprehen- 
sion ?  Oh  !  what  mighty  powerful  minds  !  possessed  by  these  two  "  dis- 
tance "  witnesses  !  to  be  engaged  in  such  business  too  ! 

Even  admitting  the  distance  as  no  greater  than  they  guessed  it,  and 
which,  moreover,  I  do  not  do  [one  of  them  was  running  away).  (But  I  am 
— as  usual — working  only  on  ground  which  I  can  readily  hold,  by  any 
standard  of  law,  of  right,  of  reason,  and  j^recedent.  And  which  is  estab- 
lished beyond  reasonable  and  fair  dispute,  and  I  suppose  recorded.  And 
wherein  the  witnesses  themselves  can  be  readily  ref  eiTed  to. ) 

So,  therefore,  must  not,  in  law,  justice,  truth,  decent  dealing  and 
humanity,  the  evidence  of  those  who  were  present  at  the  shooting,  be  the 
€vide7ice,  as  to  things  j)hysically  impossible  for  others  to  know  ?  Just  so  far  as 
does  not  conflict  "with  natural  reason,  inherent  proof,   or  other  circum- 


348  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles. 


stances,  or  mateiially  with  themselves  ?  And  most  certainly  so  when  two 
of  the  three  of  these  present  witnesses  were  lint  mntual  friends  and  jieace- 
makers  (I  being  the  third)  and  theii*  general  or  rejiuted  veracity  unques- 
tioned. 

And  when  neither  of  the  other  two  ^^ cared  a  damn!  what  he  did  %oUh 
his  f/im,"  made  never  an  effort  to  avert  the  conflict,  but  so  he  parted  from 
each  of  them  unhindered  and  thirsting  for  my  blood,  were  prejudiced, 
interested  and  officious.  And  swore  positively  to  things  impossible  to 
know,  and  to  others  established  to  be  false  beyond  disjiute.  And  who 
were  afraid  to  meet  and  face  on  the  stand  the  -witness  they  dropped  out 
and  cast  away.     And  who  were  impeached  withal. 

Oh  !  the  desecration  of  that  which  should  be  venerated,  and  ever  held 
the  most  sacred  by  all  men  !  Oh  !  the  stabbing  of  the  most  cherished 
and  beautiful  functions  of  our  Government.  Are  drunken  sailors  more 
basely,  brazenly  shanghaied  !  and  then  held  and  tortured  ?  And  from 
such  a  source  of  information  and  influence  ? 

Some  good  men  hold  that  I  should  have  surrendered  my  homage  at 
the  previous  attack,  while  others,  just  as  good,  maintain  that  I  should 
have  been  jarepared  in  kind  and  repelled  the  attack,  shot  the  danger,  when 
it  first  ajDiieared.  Yet,  though  I  owned  a  shotgun,  and  there  was  also  a 
navy  revolver  in  my  house  and  an  improved  rifle,  belonging  to  a  man — 
fond  of  hunting  sport — in  my  employ  ;  yet  the  little  pistol  Avas  the  only 
weapon  taken  or  had  by  us,  which  fact  was  not  disputed. 

If  your  Excellency  please,  it  was  always  to  me  a  sorry,  sickening  sport  ( ?) 
to  hunt  down  God's  beaiitiful  creatures,  to  see  them  suffer  and  quiver  and 
die  !  How  sorrowful  then,  indeed,  must,  in  reason,  be  my  feelings,  as  to 
the  taking  of  human  life.  But  men  are  few,  who's  hfe  they  would  give 
that  another  might  live.  And  there  are  those  who  cherish  and  love  their 
lives  and  wives  and  children — homes  and  homage — and  the  beautiful 
wherever  found  ;  and  possess  in  the  vigor  of  manhood  certain  sjiarks  in 
moral  sentiment  which  can  be  made  to  glow,  and  which  they  would  not 
desecrate  or  smother,  though  they  die  ! 

Had  I  surrendered  at  the  previous  attack,  my  surrender  would  have 
been  demanded  again  and  again  ;  as  was  afterwards  done,  as  this  jslea  is 
witness.  Had  I  run  from  the  final  attack,  I  would  likely  have  been  shot 
in  the  back,  or  called  on  to  run  again — but  not  likely  more  than  once 
more. 

It  was  confident  surrender  that  worked  my  downfall  and  jsut  me  in 
this  most  hon-ible  grave.  That  the  peace  officer,  who  decHned  my  ai)pli- 
cation  to  guard  my  life  by  the  courts  at  public  expense,  only  administered 
an  unlettered  law  of  public  sentiment — in  which  my  lot  was  cast — which 
is  "  That  one  who  will  not  defend  himself  is  unworthy  to  be  defended," 
and  which  history  of  such  proceedings  ihere  will  maintain  as  to  sentiment 
and  actions. 

Keally,  your  Excellency,  the  main  force  of  the  prosecution  was  not 


Only  Augument  of  my  Case  evek  Made. 


serious  and  grave,  but  rather  as  mth  a  snicker,  in  the  way  of  business  and 
revenge.  But  yet  they  made  many  good  but  crediilous  men  believe  that 
they  were  honest  and  humane  (?),  and  that  I,  who — though  a  farmer  most 
of  my  Hfe,  and  AWth  all  my  hardness  as  to  other  things,  had  never  killed 
even  any  domestic  animal,  except  hogs,  and  though  struggling  with  rugged 
fortune,  had  never  struck,  in  anger,  any  man,  woman,  or  child — that  1 
was  a  murderer  {?).  Thus  have  they  pierced  me  and  pierced  me  deep — 
deeper  than  they  knew — in  the  region  where  I  live,  and  where  it  hurts,  as 
with  many  poisoned  arrows,  and  cast  me  into  a  stigmatized  horrible  gi-ave 
near  five  hundred  miles  from  where  my  children  were  born.  Oh  !  don't 
jjlay  vdih.  these  arrows  now,  it  hurts  so  !  nor  fear  to  pull  them  out,  or  I 
had  rather  "  Tvinged  the  shaft  that  quivered  in  his  heart  !  " 

Twentieth. — Was  Mr.  Jumper  down  during  the  few  seconds  of  the 
shooting  dash  ?     If  so,  when  ?  how  much  ?  and  how  did  he  get  down  ? 

He  was  inches  over  six  feet  tall,  weighed  over  200  pounds,  and  a 
boasted  man  of  strength  and  activity.  His  antagonist  (for  control  of  the 
gun)  weighed  about  150  jioiinds  by  his  word,  but  he  was  no  slouch  either; 
he  was  active,  strong,  and  brave,  or  I  could  not  testify  to  it  now.  But  he 
had  a  throat  trouble,  hurting  him  in  over  exertion,  and  that  it  troubled 
him  very  much  in  the  sanguinary  struggle.  And  now  be  it  remembered 
that  "the  pistol  shots  followed  that  of  the  carbine,"  and  "all  fired  in 
quick  succession,"  (more  properly,  my  first  shot  was  fired  toith  it,  which 
explains  the  loudness  of  this,  the  second  carbine  shot).  "That  he  (Jumiser) 
jerked  him  (Lay)  by  the  gun  oif  of  his  sinking  horse,  struck  him  on  or 
against  the  head  with  the  butt  of  the  gun  and  dazed  him  ;  "  and  that  lie 
(Lay)  was  down."  That  "  nobody  had  a  hand  or  finger  on  Jumper  at  any 
time."  That  "he  gained  ten  to  fifteen  yards  in  distance — his  way  over 
the  gi-ound."  That  "  he  was  active  and  strong  to  the  end  of  the  conflict." 
And  but  one  of  my  shots  were  at  all  fatal,  and  no  effect  was  manifested 
to — his  then — antagonist  by  any  or  all  four  of  my  shots  at  any  time  during 
the  conflict,  and  he  averred  at  the  end  of  it  that  I  "had  not  hit  him  at 
all, "  and  bitterly  and  madly  condemned  me  for  not ' '  knocking  him  down  and 
stamping  Ids  head  deep  in  the  ground,  damn  him  !  "  and  afterwards  declared 
that  "  he  should  have  had /br/^/  balls  into  him,  instead  of  four !  "  And 
this,  mark  you,  from  one  who  was  before  kindly  disposed  towards  him,  and 
trying  to  divert  him  from  his  death  Avith  never  an  angry  word,  nor  did  any 
one  utter  an  angry  word  to  him  in  the  field. 

So,  therefore,  it  must  be  evident  that  all,  if  any,  of  the  "  down"  there 
was  about  it,  was  done  by  me  shooting  him  down  with  as  late  as  the  last 
shot,  or  that  together  A\dth  the  others.  And  this  man,  hanging  on  to  the 
again  cocked  gun,  or  danger,  swore  that  during  this  time  he  was  so  dazed 
that  he  did  not  see,  hear,  or  know  of  my  shots,  or  see  me — all  the  powers 
of  body  and  mind  that  he  then  had  being  riveted  to  the  gun  and  danger. 

And  thei'e  was  no  jshysical  or  circumstantial  proof  to  show  that  he  was 
down.     Nor  did  any  one  who  was  near  enough  at  this  time  to  know  who 


350  An  EriTOJEE  or  Fieky  Struggles. 

■was  sworn,  claim  to  have  seen  me  slioot  laim  when  lie  was  down  and  at 
tliat  stage  of  tlie  fright  and  fury  !  I  do  not  believe  that  any  one  near 
enough  to  know,  could  know  hardly  one  man  from  the  other,  or  just  where 
he  himself  was,  or  Avhat  he  w  as  doing,  for  it  was  dangerous  most  anywhere 
around  there  then.  If  this  be  not  reasonable,  then  Avhy  is  it  that  scarcely 
ever  does  any  two,  or  even  a  crowd  of  eye  witnesses  agree  exactly  and  hon- 
estly in  describing  any  frightful  fight  done  in  then-  midst  before  then-  eyes  ? 
And  that  the  theory  be  about  correct,  that  a  man,  when  excited,  is  Hke  a 
horse  to  the  extent  that  he  cannot  comprehend  but  one  object,  or  thought,  at 
a  time  ?  But,  however,  he  thinks  that  he  should  know  everything  that  had 
transpired  within  the  Adew,  and  often  imagines  that  he  does,  w-hen  perhaps 
he  did  not  know  anything.  In  a  side  view,  if  one's  sight  be  sharply 
drawn  to  and  fixed  on  a  frightful  man's  finger,  and  "sees  the  finger 
placed  on  the  trigger  "  of  a  gun  to  fire  a  mui'derous  shot,  I  do  not  beheve 
that  he  can  knoiv  certain,  within  a  foot  of  where  the  muzzle  of  the  gun 
is,  or  its  exact  aim,  while  his  sight  and  mind  is  thus  fixed  and  set  on  the 
trigger,  and  distinctly  hears  from  the  frights  lij^s  "  /  will  kill  you  I"  "  and 
the  gun  fired  and  was  struck  down  the  instant  he  said  it !  " 

But,  if  a  man  rn.  front  does  not  know  where  that  muzzle  is,  he  at  least 
is  impressed  with  the  most  burning,  fearful,  flaming,  blazing  imagination, 
that  can  be  stamped  on  and  in  the  brain  of  man,  and  will  not  then  discuss 
or  study  about  the  matter  before  taking  action  !  Nor  does  the  most  ariful 
double-dealing  flawed  law — concocted  by  sharks  and  apj)licable  to  the 
case,  require  that  he  should.  And  I  humbly  confess  that  in  some  of  my 
wakeful,  sufi"ering  hours  of  night,  I  could  make  any  man  gnaw  the  muzzle 
of  a  cocked  carbine  who  would  dispute  that  such  a  display  must  cause 
fear  of  life  in  the  one  expecting  the  shot,  and  in  range  of  the  aim  !  Be- 
cause I  believe  he  would  do  it,  but  to  turn  and  snicker,  which  I  would 
never  do  to  even  a  cannibal,  under  such  circumstances — for  money,  fear 
or  fame. 

In  the  tame,  cool  assassination  of  Garfield,  who  was  the  man  to  in- 
stantly jump  onto  the  tame  assassin,  to  repel  the  attack;  to  gi-asj?  the  dan- 
ger with  his  hands  !  though  standing  all  around  him  ?  And  were  there 
any  two  of  the  numerous  witnesses  present  who  exactly  agreed  as  to  what 
transpired,  or  was  in  view,  for  a  time  after  the  first  shot  was  fired  ?  I  think 
not.  Mark,  how  they  differed  about  his  hat,  etc.  But  what  would  have 
been  the  state  of  their  minds,  were  it  a.  fierce  shooting  fight  and  struggle, 
wdth  three  bucking,  bounding,  struggHng  horses  mixed  up  with  the  rest  ? 
Is  it  not  evident,  therefore,  and  anyway — to  w-ise  men  or  to  fools — that  had 
Jumper  been  shot  any  less,  that  he  would  have  succeeded  in  killing  me,  if 
not  others  besides,  who  would  have  tried  to  stay  him  in  his  rage  ? 

As  to  the  first  point  of  "  the  four  : " 

Your  Excellency,  Did  I  have  a  moral  and  technical  right  to  be  there, 
and  on  the  hapless  spot  ?  This,  the  prosecution  did  not  attempt  to  refute, 
for  the  official  records  near  at  hand  would  settle  that ;  if  the  very  laws  by 


Only  Aegujient  of  imy  Case  ever  Made.  351 

■which  I  was  being  tried  (?)  were  any  anthority  to  go  by,  and  as  before  said, 
there  was  never  any  contest  instituted  against  me,  and  there  was  no  ques- 
tion as  to  the  Hnes. 

Second  point  of  "  the  four  :  " 

Did  I !  Did  I  !  have  a  moral  and  technical  right,  caiise,  and  just 
reason,  and  in  common  prudence,  to  be  armed  to  the  extent  I  was,  and  to 
have  my  pistol  grasped  in  my  hand,  immediately  preceding  my  shots  ? 
Nor  was  this  disputed,  nor  was  it  asserted  or  claimed  on  "trial  "  (?)  that  I 
went  to  the  field,  or  to  the  spot,  with  any  evil  in  my  heart. 

And  how  could  that,  in  reason,  be  done,  under  all,  or  but  a  part  of  the 
sample  circumstances  heretofore  shown,  germane  to  the  same,  and  none  of 
them  were  assailed,  but  they  were  squelched.  They  cut  me  very  short  in 
my  testimony  ;  indeed,  they  tried  to  prevent  me  from  testifying  at  all,  and 
asked  me  but  two  questions,  when  they  dropped  me  and  virtually  said,  "  go 
off  now  and  He  down  Hke  a  good  lamb. "  (I  was  being  tricked,  shanghaied, 
and  cast  out  of  the  way,  which  I  will  swear  to  be  true,  and  can  further 
show,  if  necessary),  though  they  did  not  dispute  my  being  there,  right  on 
the  spot,  and  on  or  about  there  during  many  years  before.  Nor  did  they 
question  my  reputed  veracity  or  good  name,  though  I  invited  them  to  do 
so  by  "every  witness  i^tit  on  the  stand,  by  either  side,  or  anyone  else,  or 
that  I  was  always  a  peaceable  citizen." 

Third  point  of  "  the  four  :  " 

It  seems  to  me  that  it  must  be  plain,  that  after  Mr.  Jumper  had  failed 
to  swagger  and  frighten  me  out  of  the  field,  that  when  he  returned  to  me 
again  in  that  manner  he  plainly  showed  his  certain  intent  to  carry  out  his 
declared  and  now  manifested  determination  to  "shoot  me  out,"  and  per- 
haps anyone  else  in  his  way  to  this  end.  But  as  he  had  just  left  un- 
harmed one  of  my  men  without  threatening  him,  and  addressed  him  ' '  as 
a  friend,"  and  had  been  on  more  friendly  terms  with  the  other  by  me: 
Why  should  he,  why  ivould  he  kill  him  ?  What  would  be  the  benefit  or 
advantage  to  liim  had  they  both  left,  or  were  dead,  and  I  had  remained  ? 
Except  it  be  to  get  rid  of  them  as  witnesses  to  more  securely  mui'der  me  ! 
Could  I  not  get  other  men,  when  I  had  two  or  three  others  in  my  employ 
aU  the  season,  and  could  and  did  I  not  work  myself  ? 

Did  I  not,  therefore,  know  that  he  now  knew  that — though  I  might  be 
easily  flattered,  imposed  on,  tricked,  betrayed,  sold,  frightened  and 
killed — that  /  would  not  be  bullied  or  swaggered  from  my  homage  ?  There- 
fore, in  the  mad,  furious  desperation  of  this  final  attack,  must  I  not  reason- 
ably, instinctively,  necessarily  and  surely  be  in  fear  of  my  life  ? 

If  not,  what  in  the  name  of  high  Heaven  would  caiise  such  fear  ?  If 
not,  what  then  was  the  matter  with  me  when  I  was  bewildered,  dazed, 
"perfectly  wild"  from  the  onset  of  the  attack  untU  after  all  violence 
ended,  and  at  the  time  o/ife?'  the  shooting,  when  I  cried  out,  "for  God's 
sake,  help  us  !  "  as  both  sentences  were  sworn  to  by  even  this  friend  of 
Jumper,  and  added  that  "  we  were  all  perfectly  wild!  " 


352  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles, 

Come  now  :  If  law  and  justice  is  tlie  standard,  and  bt/  the  evidence, 
what  was  the  matte}-  with  me  ?  Your  Excellency,  what  was  the  cause  and  the 
motive  of  this  state  of  fear  ?  Where  did  it  come  from  ?  Who  hunted  for 
it  ?     Who  made  and  fired  it  ?     Who  drove  it  in  ? 

Now  then,  mth  my  pistol  clasped  in  my  hand  and  thus  impressed, 
stamped,  fixed,  set  with  fatal  fear,  and  th  us  attacked  !  What  then  is  the  most 
reasonable,  rightful  and  instinctive  motive,  impulse,  force,  current  and 
action  to  follow  ?  If  not  to  shoot,  to  repel  the  attack,  to  fight  the  frightful, 
fatal  danger  ?  Did  I!  Did  I!  Dro  I !  have  a  moral,  legal,  instinctive 
right  to  shoot  the  danger  ? 

If  not,  why  then  should  I  have  a  pistol  in  my  hand  ?  If  not,  why  did 
he  hunt  and  attack  me  with  a  loaded  and  cocked  carbine  in  both  hands, 
with  blood  in  both  eyes,  in  a  f uiious  rage,  and  having  declared  he  would 
Vill  me — "shoot  me  out  of  the  field" — in  this  very  way,  time,  and  place  ? 

In  the  Hght  of  all  these  estabHshed  and  unquestioned  facts,  was  I  not 
shanghaied  ?  Or  what  is  the  namfe  for  it  ?  Am  I  not  being  butchered,  or 
what  is  it  that  a  farmer  can  understand  ? 

Fourth  point  of  "  the  four  " — the  state  of  fear. 

Your  Excellency,  when  one  is  thus — as  is  estabHshed  I  was — in  a  state 
of  fatal  fear,  what  is  the  most  probable  shortest  space  of  time  such  state 
can  be,  that  the  force,  power,  current  of  such  shooting  impulse  can  exist, 
be  spent,  and  the  brain  be  impressed  with  an  adverse  or  diverse  thought 
so  that  different  action  can  follow,  transpire,  by  the  force  of  reason  ? 

To  those  who  may  not  have  given  this  subject  due  thought  I  would 
submit,  that  in  such  sanguinary  attack  and  conflict,  sound  and  fury,  the 
brain  and  mind  is  naturally,  necessarily,  spontaneously  and  uncontrollably 
impressed,  stamped,  fixed,  and  spell-bound  with  danger  for  a  time  or  state. 
That  during  such  state  or  spell,  the  reasoning  function  of  the  brain  (the 
only  accountable  motive  in  man)  is  susi3ended  or  paraHzed,  and  he  is  then, 
therefore,  consequently  and  unavoidably  simply  a  machine,  in  the  power 
and  control  of  an  engineer,  or  distinct  power  {instinct)  which  is  irresponsi- 
ble to  any  man. 

That,  therefore,  the  acts  that  are  done  during  the  time  of  such  state 
of  fear  or  sjyell,  are  the  spontaneous,  ungovernable  acts  of  artless  instinct, 
nature,  and  of  God. 

That  a  person  cannot  cry  and  laugh  at  one  and  the  same  time  ;  that 
he  cannot  write  with  one  hand  intelhgently  on  a  serious  or  dangerous  sub- 
ject or  event  with  much  force  of  thought,  and  at  the  same  time  write  with 
the  other  hand  with  force  of  thought  on  an  opposite  or  a  diverse  subjefet, 
also,  that  when  the  mind  is  firmly  set,  fixed,  or  strained  on  any  thought — 
as  of  api^arent  danger — such  thought  and  impression  cannot  be  suddenly 
dropped,  removed,  or  rubbed  out,  sufficient  for  the  brain  to  receive  an- 
other or  opposite,  or  a  diverse  impression,  distinctly  impressed  or  photo- 
graphed, so  that  it  be  possible  for  intelligent  opposite  or  diverse  acts  to  fol- 
low instantly  ;  that  before  such  other  difierent  acts  can  be  displayed,  an 


Only  Argument  of  my  Case  ever  Made.  353 

interval — a  sijace  of  time — must  and  does  therefore  intervene,  and  that 
during  such  interval  of  time,  the  motive  or  reasoning  power  gets  to  work 
and  works  another,  or  photograj^hs  such  different  impression  on  the  then 
passive  brain,  after  which  intelHgent  and  responsible  acts  are  done,  and 
not  before  or  sooner  can  they  be.  That  during  such  interval  or  inter- 
mediate space  of  time,  a  person  is  necessarily  in  a  state  of  bewilderment, 
perplexity,  folly,  and  of  instinct,  it  may  be  passive  or  intense,  exti'eme  or 
active,  or  dazed — according  to  the  force  of  events  transpiring  or  trans- 
mitted in  the  way — and  which  the  force  of  instinct  deals  with  in  its  own 
simple,  artless,  yet  most  effective  way;  that  this  space  of  time,  from  reason 
to  reason  and  state  of  fear,  in  my  case,  as  a  matter  of  established  fact  as 
heretofore  shown,  did  extend  from  the  time  Jumper  made  his  final  attack 
and  fired,  until  he  was  disarmed,  or  gave  up  his  gun,  or  the  repelhng  of  the  at- 
tack was  accomphshed.  That,  besides  being  established  by  personal  evidence, 
the  instinct  of  reason  teaches  that  such  time  must  be  greater  than  the 
fern  seconds  of  the  shooting  dash.  That,  therefore,  if  I  committed  any  crime 
it  was  in  performing  my  homage  and  grasping  my  pistol. 

That  no  standard  law  (or  any  other  I  ever  heard  of)  classes  as  murder 
ANY  act  or  acts  done  in  such  a  state.  But  that,  however,  in  reason  and 
fact  I  did  not  shoot  as  long  as  the  fatal  danger  lasted,  and  that  it  was  a 
most  extremely  narrow  escape  or  miss  from  death  that  I  had  from  first  to 
last — from  the  onset  until  the  gun  was  surrendered. 

That  none  of  such  reasoning  or  discussion,  as  I  have  roughly  cast, 
was  allowed  me  at  my  "  trial"  (?)  or  to  argue  or  sum  up  the  case,  or  to 
use  diagrams  that  were  drawn  for  the  occasion.  But  that  to  impeach  the  two 
2)rosecution  witnesses,  each  as  to  some  j^art  of  their  evidence,  and  to  es- 
tablish the  words  spoken  by  Jumper  as  he  fired,  was  held  to  be  sufficient ; 
which  was  done,  besides  the  other  evidence  as  before  noted.  The  declar- 
ation, "  I  will  kill  you  ! "  was  not  disputed. 

That  the  evidence,  or  rather  sttiff,  by  which  I  had  been  held  without 
bail  or  trial,  or  hearing,  was,  as  before  shown,  of  Jumper's  partner  [who 
was  not  even  arrested]  and  the  other  prejudiced  and  interested  "wdtness 
[who  was  not  prosecuted  either]  who  "didn't  care  a  damn  !  what  he  did 
with  his  gun,"  if,  indeed,  he  did  not  urge  him  on.  And  who  both — as 
before  also  shown — were  too  distant  to  know  as  to  disputable  material 
points,  or  parts,  or  matter  ;  supposing  anything  could  or  should  in  reason 
and  even  justice  and  law  be  very  material  with  the  indisputable  fact,  that  he 
was  hunting  me  with  a  cocked  carbine,  and  murder  in  his  heart! 

The  Grand  Jury,  as  a  whole,  I  beHeve,  thought  as  /  did,  that  my  trial 
would  follow  immediately,  and  perhaps,  therefore,  did  not  summon  any 
one  xcho  was  present  at  the  shooting,  and  knew  the  fight,  or  who  was  un- 
prejudiced or  honest,  which  criminal  negHgence  doubtless  secured  my  in- 
dictment for  murder  anyway,  and  the  succeeding  six  months  of  duress, 
and  by  which  duress,  most  vile,  only  could  my  con^dctiou  be  managed  or 
accomphshed.  Because  the  evidence  to  be  had  up  to  this  time  against  me, 
23 


354  An  EriTOME  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

vras  really  either  immaterial  or  else  so  thin,  false  and  rotten,  that  almost  any 
cheap  police  court  lawyer,  or  any  farmer  with  ability  enough  to  make  and 
hold  a  comfortable  livelihood  out  of  the  ground,  could — with  measiu'ement, 
a  diagram,  comparison  A\-ith  even  its  own  as  originally  sworn,  and  a  little 
reasoning — make  jilaiu  and  evident  to  even  a  child,  and  blow  it  away  by 
any  standard  of  reason,  law,  justice,  or  precedent,  as  per  samjjles  given. 
The  ijreponderance  of  personal  e^•idence  to  divert  the  aim  of  the  gun  from 
"my  heart"  to  the  man's  life  by  my  side,  was  managed,  wrought  and 
wrung  out  of  duress,  distress  mid/ear,  managed  for  the  purpose  by  a  prac- 
tice that  would  make  even  cannibals  blush  with  shame,  and  for  which  the 
people  were  taxed  and  /  held  as  criminally  responsible.  And  this,  while  I 
was  held  in  vile  diiress  and  in  a  false  light,  without  even  a  hearing,  and 
begging  for  a  trial  !  A  situation  that  will  cause  any  one's  average  friends 
to  stampede  hke  a  baud  of  sheep  when  one  of  their  number  is  attacked  by 
a  pack  of  wolves,  and  which  was  a  part  of  the  play  and  swindle  ;  and, 
furthermore,  it  was  a  suri^rising  trick  sprung  on  the  stand.  The  proof  of 
which  can  be  discovered  in  various  articles  of  this — the  only  argument,  ^ylea, 
and  summhig  up  of  my  case  ever  made,  and,  of  course,  it  could  be  done 
better. 

[To  fix  these  -ndtnesses,  they  were  indicted  for  '  ^premeditated  and  mali- 
cious murder,  hearing  which  one  of  them  ("Jumper's  friend  "),  frightened 
with  fear,  cried  out,  "Oh,  my  God  !  I  am  as  innocent  as  a  child  unborn, 
but  they  will  Jiang  all  of  us!  "  Whereupon  he  was  privately  interviewed, 
a  bargain  struck,  and  he  was  turned  out.  Biit  it  required  six  months 
longer  to  fix  the  other.] 

The  Jury  was  not  chosen  by  lot  and  was  illegal.  And  I  was  tiicked 
{as  any  producer  can  be  and  is  in  danger  of  being  by  the  hidden  tricks  of 
the  trade)  into  an  embarrassed  duress  and  misplaced  confidence  in  which 
I  had  no  say  as  to  its  (the  Jury's)  construction,  or  any  power  against  the 
traitorous  tricks  j)layed  on  and  ofi"  of  the  stand  to  my  ruin.  But  yet  part 
of  the  jurymen  said,  that  had  it  not  been  for  my  last  shot  or  two,  nothing 
could  have  been  made  out  of  the  point,  or  any  of  the  matter  put  against 
me  anyway  and  voted  the  judgement  they  did,  with  the  hope  and  expecta- 
tion that  the  executive  would  abrogate  it.  And  those  of  these  who  had 
not  gone  away  did  presently  so  petition,  and  the  verdict  included  a  recom- 
mendation to  the  court  for  mercy. 

But  to  consider  duly  withal  the  rapidity  of  the  shots — that  they  were 
of  the  very  same  impulse — and  the  manifest  danger  all  the  time  until  after 
the  shooting,  and  the  state  and  imjiulse  of  fear  and  the  natiiral  inability  of 
Avitnesses  to  really  know  much  in  such  danger  and  fury,  was  it  not,  indeed, 
at  least  an  inconsiderate,  a  narrow  and  most  unusual  verdict;  and  was  I 
and  those  of  my  friends  who  did  not  stampede,  unreasonable,  or  criminally 
unwary,  when  we  trustingly  believed  that  as  soon  as  the  circumstances 
and  traitorous  tricks  that  induced  it  were  shown  to  the  executive,  with  a 
fair  petition  of  the  peace  and  home  loving  citizens  of  my  section  and  ac- 


Only  Argument  of  my  Case  ever  Made.  355 

quaintance,  that  my  restoration  would  be  very  presently  granted.  And 
when  others,  who  are  guilty  of  crime,  are  so  frequently  restored  in  the- 
verge  of  their  sentences,  ichy  am  I  thus  discriminated  against?  And  is  it- 
not,  indeed,  hard  and  oppressive  and  murderous  to  me  in  my  sore  and 
wringing  distresses  and  ill  health  ? 

That  the  producing  class  cannot  support  a  grasping  horde  of  sharks 
and  homewreckers,  have  time  left  to  keep  posted  in  the  ever  changing 
tricks  of  their  trade,  keep  the  public  posted  as  to  every  job  put  up  against 
them,  and  besides  have  time  to  make  something  for  themselves  or  their 
children.  That,  therefore,  it  is  unfair  and  grinding  to  deny  recourse  to 
one  of  these  victims  from  their  nefarious  coil,  and  without  proclamation  of 
warning  made  before.  That  I  never  had  any  quarrel  or  trouble  with  my 
settled  neighbors  whatever,  except  with  one,  biit  with  a  few  transient 
sharks  or  raiders,  who  required  of  me  to  buy  my  peace  of  them  at  ruinous 
prices  and  dishonor,  till  I  had  to  rim,  deliver,  fight,  or  die! 

And  as  only  one  in  about  fifty  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  land  have  suc- 
ceeded in  making,  holding  and  enjoying  comfortable  homes  thereon,  per- 
hai3S  I  should  have  been  guided  by  their  experience  and  been  satisfied  to 
live  in  a  tent.     I  know  whereof  I  speak,  only  one  in  about  fifty  ! 

Oh,  how  brave  and  patriotic  (?)  for  a  [secret]  cHque  of  men  to  divert 
the  powers  of  government,  to  wreck  and  devastate  a  well-earned  and 
happy  home!  And  take  the  life  of  a  single,  solitary,  peaceable  tiller  of  the 
soil,  on  the  strength  and  sadness  of  the  funeral  of  one  who  at  least  had 
the  sand  to  undertake  it  alone. 

That  I  have  implored  your  Excellency  and  his  Honor,  not  to  consider 
the  dignity  of  state  or  functions  of  ofl&ce,  or  of  jjersonal  feelings  too  great, 
to  point  out  to  my  understanding  any  case  against  me,  or  to  show  any  re- 
futation of  the  points  I  have  roughly  taken,  when  all  the  circumstances 
are  duly  considered;  or  that  these  are  not  germane  and  rightly  taken,  or 
as  to  which,  if  any,  need  further  proof,  explanation  or  reference  ?  But 
have  been  granted  nothing  as  to  the  same,  except  that  I  '  'was  convicted  by 
a  Jury  of  my  countrymen." 

I  have  also,  throughout,  begged  for  executive  mercy  (though  "the 
world  (foes  turn  round"),  and  ever  ready  to  confess  to  any  guilt  or  sin, 
shown  to  my  understanding,  or  to  that  of  my  near  or  jDroven  friends,  and 
to  mend  my  ways  or  pursue  others  entirely  different,  if  such  rule  be 
shown  to  me  by  which  I  can  live  better,  in  more  peace  and  less  dishonor, 
which  also  have  fallen  on  stony  gi'ound,  leaving  me  in  the  dark  and  as 
one  in  a  dream — having  been  pushed  off  of  a  high  bridge,  and  though 
conscious  of  the  fatal  fall,  yet  powerless  to  combat  or  avert  it,  except  by 
a  hand  in  sight  but  -withdrawn  or  chnched. 

Anything  as  to  my  statements  of  my  case,  etc.,  that  may  be  too  con- 
cise and  suggestive  rather  than  complete  and  exhaustive,  [and  requiring 
a  day  or  two  to  read  it,  as  is  the  case  when  a  member  of  a  secret  gang  is 
tried,]  and  may,  therefore,  (on  account  of  its  comparative  brevity)  not 


356  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

seem  plausible  to  a  i:)rejudiced  or  contracted  understanding,  function  or 
motive,  can  be  shown  Avlierein  and  wliy  it  is  true;  as,  for  example,  why,  if 
these  things  be  all  true,  did  my  neighbors  and  friends  permit  my  op- 
jDression  ?  Because  I  did  not  wail  about  my  trouble  nor  proclaim  it  from 
the  housetops  or  through  the  press,  but  kept  on  my  even,  peaceful,  con- 
fident course;  my  relatives  were  far  away,  I  belonged  to  no  clique  or 
clan,  but  looked  confidently  on  "every  man  in  the  right  as  a  brother  " 
and  honesty  as  honorable.  My  neighbors  and  friends  are  jieaceful  citi- 
zens— not  sharks  or  containing  the  element  of  mobs — and  had  trouble  and 
toil  enough  of  iheir  own  to  keep  them  very  busy,  and  did  not  think  there 
could  be  any  conviction;  naturally  thinking  that  when  one  had  ability 
enough  to  prosjjer  so  long  and  well,  where  so  many  others  had  failed, 
that  he  should  have  sense  and  character  and  means  enough  to  take  care  of 
himself  or  to  choose  proper  and  safe  assistance,  if  he  was  right — not  sup- 
posing that  their  own  taxes  and  government  could  be  turned  against  him  . 
in  such  a  case,  and  there  was  dirt  cast  and  thrown  into  their  eyes  [by  the 
lying  gang]  from  the  outset,  through  which  many  could  not  see  clearly. 
But  some,  of  course,  did  not  care  anyway,  for  they  could  now  catch  up  in 
the  rugged  struggles  of  life,  f ooHshly  shutting  their  eyes  to  the  fact,  that 
such  selfish  lack  of  critical  interest  [and  earnest  action]  is  just  what  keeps 
us  eternally  ground  in  the  dirt;  and  of  their  turn  to  come  to  /eel  it,  in  one 
way  or  another' — fifty  chances  to  one! 

But  my  neighbors  did  volunteer  much  help,  as  much  of  the  evidence, 
etc. ,  shows,  and  offered  more  of  such  assistance.  I  have  no  comi^laint 
against  my  neighbors  and  they  have  none  against  me,  w^hile  there  are 
some  whose  troubles  will  ever  be  mine  also. 

But  the  single  fact,  that  the  ground  and  portion  of  the  field  where  the 
tragedy  occurred  w^as  never  measured,  shows  how  sadly,  indeed,  they  mis- 
judged my  ability  in  choosing  honest  assistance,  though  they  would  not 
oppress  me  on  account  of  my  ignorance. 

The  guess  of  the  two  interested,  prejudiced,  distant,  etc. ,  prosecution 
witnesses  alone  was  sought  and  taken  as  to  their  distance  off  from  the 
shooting.  One  was  on  one  side  of  that  body  of  2Jlowed  gi-ound  and  the 
other  about  oj^ijosite  and  some  distance  outside  of  the  fence,  and  who 
guessed  at  the  distance  from  the  shooting  as  about  half  that  of  the  foimer, 
who  put  his  distance  at  140  yards. 

Now  there  was  an  unprejudiced  man  present  at  this  pretense  of  a  trial 
who,  while  in  my  employ,  plowed  that  ground,  and  he  guessed  this  dis- 
tance, while  he  was  even  steiJjjing  it  so  much,  to  be  "a  quarter  of  a  mile," 
440  yards,  (instead  of  "210"  as  put  and  accepted),  but  which  (440  yards), 
however,  was  about  100  yards  too  great;  but  had  it  not  been  deemed  by 
others  [secretly]  against  me,  that  "they  had  placed  themselves  far  enough 
out  of  distance  "  and  reason,  with  the  other  circumstances  and  impeach- 
ment against  them,  then  the  one  quarter  of  a  mile  (440  yards)  would  have 
been  his  guess  evidence  as  to  the  same,  although  subpoenaed  by  the  pvo- 


Only  Argument  of  my  Case  ever  Made.  357 

secution  in  their  raking  the  country  for  threats  from  me — as  though  I 
would  not  have  the  right  io  defend  myself  on  my  own  home  anyway — (I 
never  had  a  quarrel  -with,  any  man  in  my  employ,  nor  did  I  "murder"  any 
of  them,  nor  had  I  threatened  Jumper  with  more  than  legal  process  to 
them,  nor  would  any  one  of  them  swear  that  I  had.  This  one  swore,  that  he 
"plowed  about  40  acres  for  me  there,"  and  he  plowed  less  days  than 
others  had  for  me  in  breaking  this  field,  and  with  the  same  four-horse 
team.  Yet,  they  would  not  let  any  of  these  testify  as  to  the  distances. 
And  I  had  hauled  and  laid  into  fence  nearly  every  joannel  of  fence  across 
and  about  there  and  had  worked  on  this  land  in  this  and  other  ways  for 
years,  and  had  it  partly  fenced  before  it  was  surveyed  by  the  Government, 
so  that  /  could  have  guessed,  as  knowingly  as  anybody,  if  allowed ;  had 
not  the  evidence  of  these  two  witnesses  [don't  you  forget  it]  by  whom 
my  indictment  and  near  ten  months  of  vile  duress  was  cast  and  my  con- 
viction (?)  fixed,  put  wp,  secured — been  deemed  to  be  already  abun- 
dantly refuted,  "so  that  my  knowledge  as  to  the  fight  and  trouble  and 
distances  would  be  superfluous."  Didn't  want  me  to  testify  at  all!  [Any 
one  who  insinuates  that  I  was  honestly  defended  or  had  any  real  trial,  is 
a  liar,  a  thief  and  a  cur,  and  a  traitor  at  heart.'\ 

A  portion  of  these  rails  I  bought  of  Jumper  himself  in  the  woods,  for 
this  expressed  iJiu-jiose,  and  afterwards  when  he  had  started  in  to  jump  the 
land,  he  admitted  to  me  m  the  presence  of  others,  in  these,  his  own  words, 
that  "no  man  has  ever  treated  me  better  than  you  have." 

This  was  a  quarter  section  of  school  land  destitute  of  water  (so  as  to 
be  of  little  or  no  value  as  a  home  by  itself)  and  adjoining  my  other  land. 
I  had  it  leased  in  due  form,  besides  first  improvements,  and  had  it  en- 
closed— which  was  tiro  points  more  than  the  law  required.  Jumper's  pre- 
text was  that  certain  sharks  had  told  him  to  "  sail  in,"  that  the  statute  by 
which  such  lands  had,  was  and  is  being  taken  and  held  (in  nearly  every 
county  of  the  territory)  was  void.  But  as  it  (the  law)  had  not  been  abro- 
gated by  the  courts,  and  as  all  of  the  statutes  are  flawed  for  to  be  questioned 
for  a  price,  I  therefore  required,  and  was  willing  to  contend  for  some- 
thing more  official  than  his  word  or  other  tattle,  and  then  he  said  he 
"  would  give  me  an  ounce  of  lead.'"  And  I  should  have  taken  it,  should  I  ? 

But  another  gentleman  had  been  trying  to  jumj)  another  portion  of  my 
home  to  which  I  had  for  years  a  United  States  patent,  he  going  into  an- 
other field  and  took  possession  of  my  springs  and  only  water — some  one 
hundred  and  fifty  (150)  yards  within  a  well  marked  government  Hne  on 
deeded  land  I  had  lived  and  pioneered  on  for  years  when  my  settlement 
was  a  subject  of  ridicule  and  jest — and  denied  me  even  water  necessary  for 
my  domestic  use  and  that  of  neighbors  who  were  in  a  measure  dei^endent 
on  the  same,  and  this  after  I  was  out  over  $150  to  accommodate  him  or  in 
buying  my  peace.  He  told  me  "if  I  wanted  water,  to  dig  for  it,"  and  I 
did  not  "murder  "  him,  or  arm  myself  in  any  way,  because  he  only  used 
a  half  dozen  men  to  take  possession  with — no  carbine.    I  vainly  plead  ta 


358  An  EprroME  of  Fieky  Struggles. 

him  for  several  weeks  for  only  enoiigli  Avater  for  domestic  use,  and  "while 
■we  were  carrying  it  near  one-quarter  of  a  mile  on  his  account ;  but  I 
finally  got  very  tired  and  ashamed  of  myself  ;  then  I  told  the  gentleman 
to  take  a  turn  as  "water  canier  himself.  He  did  not  hke  it,  and,  of  course, 
I  "was  in  his  Avay  then,  and  so  he  said  ' '  he  would  help  Mr.  Jumper  "with  Ids 
job." 

I  was  wUhug  to  divide  up  occasionally  with  such  influential  gentle- 
men so  that  they  would  permit  me  to  live  in  their  country,  but  they  fre- 
quently want  to  take  all  an  "  idiotic  haymaker"  has,  to  diA-ide  it  up  them- 
selves. And,  of  course,  if  the  Government  and  press  and  false  friends 
back  them,  they  can  get  away  with  it  every  time,  and  butcher  anybody  in 
the  "way.  Although  being  aware  that  the  courts  do  not  often  defend  homes 
"without  at  least  mortgaging  them  into  the  ground,  yet  I  implored  these 
gentlemen,  that  such  was  the  more  ciA^iUzed  and  advanced  method  of  get- 
ting them,  and  if  they  wanted  mine,  to  take  it  in  that  way,  that  "  it  would 
look  better  anyhow  and  I  wanted  to  see  how  it  was  done  ; "  but  to  insti- 
tute siiits  and  divide  the  stock  in  that  way  would  be  too  tedious  for  them, 
they  wanted  it  then,  or  I  must  die  !  Must  I?  These  gentlemen  were 
[close]  friends  and  talked  to  me  of  each  other,  and  one  of  them  did  show 
me  "  how  it  is  done,"  but  it  loas  on  the  gravity  of  the  other  one'' s  funeral. 

It  was  he  \vith  his  men  and  but  two  or  three  others  of  his  friends  that 
was  the  power  at  the  throne,  at  which  I  was  first  held  or  shanghaied;  he 
had  a  shot-gun  and  others  of  them  were  in  hke  manner  armed,  and  he  did 
"  do  it  with  a  grin."  It  was  afterwards  said  [and  is  yet  J  that  a  quart  of 
whiskey  added  that  night  would  have  been  my  death,  together  with  that 
of  the  only  near  witnesses  to  their  defeat  the  day  before  ;  but  others 
would  have  bitten  the  dust  also.  This  is  the  little  midnight  mob  noted  at 
the  oiitset ;  this  is  the  "serious"  grave  (?)  force  that  prosecuted  and 
hunted  me  to  the  grave,  andAvhich  practice  is  being  justified  by  my  blood. 
This  is  the  "brave"  (?),  patriotic  {?),  "virtuous  (?)  element  "that  is  thus 
being  venerated  and  backed  !  " 

Is  there  no  o£Bce  without  the  reach  of  such  power  ?  no  oflScial  heart 
but  what  is  mellow  to  such  "serious"  (?)  prayers,  and  hardened  to  the 
sons  of  honorable  toil  ? 

And  I  have  "mitten  as  truly  as  Bancroft  could  "waite  this  history,  but 
it  is  no  pleasure  for  me  to  "wiite  it,  and  I  am  sufiering  because  it  is  true. 

If  your  Excellency  wotdd  grant  me  but  another  chance  to  hve  against 
the  forty -nine,  then  permit  me  to  swear  to  this  ei^itome  and  only  discussion 
of  my  case,  by  the  sentence,  by  sections,  or  as  a  whole,  as  far  as  I  pretend 
to  know;  stand  what  is  left  of  me  on  but  the  partial  level  of  a  haggled,  re- 
stored "victim,  and  if  any  one  would  face  me  "with  a  denial,  I  can  be  tried 
by  another  "jury  of  my  countrymen  "  for  jjerjuiy,  and  in  which  event,  if 
it  be  criminals  your  Excellency  wants,  they  can  be  found,  though  I  be  not 
con"\icted  any  more. 

The  good  citizens  of  my  section,  if  your  Excellency  jjlease,  may  be 


Only  Argument  op  my  Case  ever  Made.         359 

swayed  to  trust  in  men  who  always  have  and  will  tap  their  granaries  to 
the  bottom  ;  but  an  angel  from  Heaven  could  not  make  them  believe  that 
they  have  not  lost  the  grain,  or  that  the  courts  are  perfection,  infallible, 
and  mercy  a  sin. 

With  all  possible  humihty,  and  respect  and  courtesy,  I  submit  for 
decent  consideration,  whether  it  is  jjlainly  and  by  good  authority  shown 
that  instead  of  the  flock  of  crows,  so  immense  as  to  darken  the  sun  of 
heaven  against  me,  that  in  truth  there  never  was  even  a  single,  solitary  little 
blackbird  ;  and  that  this  storm  was  put  up  for  plunder  and  crime  in  the 
cowardly,  sneaking,  traitorous,  deadly  guise  of  friendship  and  of  justice. 
And  by  which  I  have  been  plundered  of  my  liberty  and  life,  of  my  family, 
of  my  hard  and  well  earned  home  and  herds,  and  my  children  of  their 
rightful  care  and  heritage.  And  this  by  gentlemen  who  would  rob  orjihau 
children  of  their  last  chicken  and  their  doll,  cast  them  in  prison  to  hide 
their  crime,  and  would  sell  their  Saviour  and  their  souls  for  a  little  money 
— these  cut-throats  and  sharks  !  And  on  their  account  I  must  be  butch- 
ered !     Must  I? 

Youi-  Excellency  seems  to  have  forgotten — it  being  so  long  ago — that  not- 
withstanding my  case  having  not  been  fully  and  fairly  made  known  to  the 
public,  that  yet  my  restoration  has  long  since  been  seriously  jjetitioned  for 
by  my  neighbors — with  scarcely  exception  for  several  miles  about  me — 
with  a  goodly  and  representative  portion  of  the  other  good  citizens  of  my 
counties  and  range,  and  with  a  portion  of  that  "  jury  of  my  countrymen" 
that  so  haplessly  "convicted"  (?)  me,  and  this  without  any  remonstrance 
from  any  quarter  or  person — at  leaai  publicly  or  squareli/  done.  And  that  a 
goodly  portion  of  these  are  Christian  men,  of  manly  honor  and  fine  feel- 
ings, and  comj)rise  the  best  elements  of  society  ;  men  who  would  not  cling 
to  a  legal  mistake  or  fiction  if  they  only  half  know  it,  if  it  desecrates  a 
fundamental  and  beautiful  truth,  or  the  sacred  sentiment  of  charity. 
Your  Excellency,  all  of  these  jjetitioners  know  much  as  to  the  struggles  in 
earning  and  holding  a  home  and  livehhood  in  their  country,  of  courts  and 
sharks,  whom  artless  men  cannot  know  without  experience,  of  my  trouble 
and  distress,  and  they  know  me,  I  think,  to  a  man,  as  a  citizen,  husband, 
father,  and  somewhat  as  an  official,  and  as  a  neighbor,  not  as  perfection, 
oh,  no  ;  but  they  are  not  afraid  I  would  "murder"  anybody,  or  willingly 
bring  sorrow  to  any  fireside.  These  good  citizens  pray  to  your  Excellency 
that  I  be  no  longer  held  as  a  depraved  criminal  !  Are  their  prayers  to 
avail  me  nothing  ?  WiU  such  a  force  of  prayer  not  jjhase  the  executive 
heart  and  find  therein  a  single  spark  of  mercy  ? 

Your  Excellency  could  also  discover  among  these  petitions  men  who 
at  the  outset  of  my  trouble  were  active  in  my  downfall,  they  would  give 
me  a  whud  in  the  way  of  business,  they  would  fight  me  when  I  could 
fight  them  in  return  ;  but  Avhen  they  had  won  the  contest,  they  would 
not  oppress  me  to  the  death,  and  have  jjrayed  that  your  Excellency  do 
not.     Of  such  as  they  I  never  wailed,  to  such  I  can  cherish  no  hatred. 


360  An  Epitome  of  Fiery  Struggles. 

And  I  am  loth  to  open  sores  tliat  might  otherwise  be  healed,  and  re- 
frain from  doing  so  except  so  far  as  my  situation  compels,  and  wliich 
I  think  your  Excellency  might  consider.  Are  the  prayers  of  these  also 
to  be  disdained  ? 

I  would  also  beg  to  remind  your  Excellency  of  an  additional  dusty 
petition,  composed  as  it  is  of  representative  men  of  exalted  order  in 
my  native  state,  including  a  Supreme  Judge  of  renowned  talents.  That 
these  petitioners  also  know  me  in  a  manner,  and  consider  my  word  alone 
good  enough  for  them  to  base  their  action  on,  and  they  know  what  was  sworn 
to  against  me.  That  to  impose  on  and  stultify  these  petitioners  I  would 
necessarily  be  a  consummated  villain,  bom,  bred,  and  practiced  ;  and  to 
presume  that  they  would  impose  on  or  stidtify  your  Excellency,  would  not 
be  done  by  those  who  know  them  well.  It  is  hard  and  mortifying  to  think 
or  know  that  the  prayers  of  such  men — who  would  extend  to  me  from 
afar  a  helping  hand,  though  in  trouble  and  stigmatized  as  a  felon — glance 
or  bound  to  the  ground. 

But  though  your  Excellency  may  consider  all  of  the  ardent  prayers 
in  my  behalf  as  if  but  a  casual  breeze,  and  me  as  a  vicious  animal,  fit  only 
for  the  yoke  and  the  slaughter,  and  my  wife  and  children  as  but  suitable 
victims  and  game  for  depravity  ;  yet,  thank  God,  those  of  my  kind  (and  the 
kind  are  numerous)  who  know  me  and  my  trouble  well,  do  not  so  consider 
the  matter  ;  though  they  be  powerless  to  avail  me  anything  but  fruitless, 
though  ardent  prayers. 

His  Honor — though  not  famed  for  excessive  mercy,  and  with  the  dis- 
cord of  such  position,  and  also  while  not  fully  knowing  my  case — has  said 
that  had  the  literal  statute  permitted  it  under  the  verdict,  he  would  have 
made  my  sentence  five  years  instead  of  ten,  and  that  he  wotild  not  oppose 
my  pardon  at  any  time  before. 

That  if,  therefore,  I  have  any  rights  whatever  any  more,  but  to  sufier, 
and  quiver,  and  die  ;  and  it  be  only  a  rightful  i^roposition  to  consider  ten 
vears  as  but  a  technical  sentence,  and  five  as  the  moral  or  spirit  of  the  judg- 
ment against  me,  and  that  I  am  by  right  entitled  to  the  tune  I  suffered  in 
jail,  begging  for  a  trial ;  and  the  abatement  of  time  provided  by  law  for 
good  conduct,  ajjplied  on  such  judgment,  then  I  will  in  October  next  have 
fulfilled  the  full  terms  of  s^uch  judgment.  And  if  this  is  done,  then  therefore 
I  most  respectfully  submit  if  your  Excellency  will  not  then  have  entirely 
rejected  all  of  the  manifest  prayers,  showings,  and  proofs,  so  earnestly, 
honestly  and  humbly  offered  for  executive  clemency.  And  that  any- 
thing beyond  would  be  simply  enforcing  a  hard,  unusual,  unintended, 
technical,  distressing,  unlawful  swindle  of  a  verdict;  made  out  of  fixed 
evidence,  spiimg  on  duress  without  a  moments  warning  or  recourse,  and 
ground  out  in  i:)ai-t  by  about  13  months  of  false,  pernicious,  dastai-dly  im- 
pi-isonment  and  fear,  fixed  up  and  plotted  for  the  purpose.  And  I  must 
be  butchered  in  order  to  stuff  such  practice  down  the  throat  of  the  public 


Only  Akgument  of  my  Case  ever  Made.  361 

as  "honorable"  (?)  must  II     That  sharks  and  cut-throats  may  fatten  on 
human  misery  and  blood. 

That  the  single  germane,  indisputable  fact,  that  Jumper  -was  hunting 
me  on  my  home,  with  a  cocked  carbine  in  both  hands,  "with  mtirder  in  his 
heart,  and  having  declared  to  me  and  to  others  that  ' '  he  would  do  so  and 
kill  me"  on  the  very  occasion,  makes  evident  of  itself  that  his  death  was 
only  a  pretext  and  blind  used  by  unconvicted,  criminal  sharks,  to  use  the 
power  and  taxes  and  protection  of  government  to  suck  my  blood.  And 
had  these  blood-suckers  been  in  like  manner  and  intent  wdth  Jumper  at 
the  front  and  I  had  killed  them  all,  would  it  have  been  murder  ?  Or  am 
I  and  my  whole  tribe  savages  or  fools,  indeed  ? 

Though  always  loth  to  bewail  my  troubles  with  or  to  men,  yet,  I  owe 
it  to  myself,  to  my  children  and  my  kind,  to  thns  submit  my  case  at  this 
late  day  for  j)ubLic  as  well  as  executive  consideration,  as  I  am  still  being 
haggled  in  the  deadly  guise  of  friendship  and  of  justice,  till  some  of  my 
old  friends  would  hardly  know  me  now;  and  my  name  and  pride  which 
before  was  not  considered  bad,  to  take  alone  in  the  way  of  business  any- 
way, is  being  haggled  too.  And  I  have  been  choked  and  suppressed  and 
oppressed,  and  betrayed  and  sold,  till  this  is  but  a  death  rattle.  But  if  any- 
thing in  conflict  with,  or  denial  of  any  of  my  avertments  be  embraced  and 
then  intelligently  and  honestly  sifted,  jjressed  and  hammered,  it  will  fly 
in  burned  fragments,  and  no  point  be  made  that  will  pierce  or  turn  any  I 
have  fhown  in  my  case  or  character.  And  let  any  one  who  would  care  to 
know  ihe  truth  as  to  my  trouble  know  it  now  and  not  forget  it,  as  is  valu- 
ed ali  that  is  most  dear  and  sacred  and  beautiful  to  man. 

Very  truly, 

Geo.  W.  France," 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Prison  experience  concluded. — Efforts  to  get  my  case  before  the  Supreme 
Coiu-t. — Copious  extracts  from  my  cliaiy  kej^t  in  jiiison. — "Consider- 
ing my  case." — "Seeing  aboiit  it,"  etc.,  etc. — My  appeals  to  Legis- 
latures, the  President,  Congi-ess,  etc. — How  changes  in  Governors, 
etc.,  are  discussed  by  prisoners. — Prisoners  that  were  shanghaied  and 
never  convicted. — Howl  estabHshed  my  good  conduct  against  the  lying 
gang. — The  "  good  Judiciary. " — Eftorts  of  and  for  other  prisoners 
and  results. — Kemoval  to  Walla  Walla. — My  release,  etc. 

1  HE  Governor  treated  tlie  epitome,  etc.,  of  the  foregoing 
chapter  just  as  he  had  all  other  communications  in  my  behalf, 
because  he  was  able  to  squelch  it  from  the  people,  of  whom  he 
said,  "  they  make  great  clamor  over  pardoning."  He  was  dead 
to  every  generous  or  just  emotion  and  every  elevated  senti- 
ment. 

So  then  I  made  an  effort  with  the  "  good  Judiciary "  to 
grant  me  some  kind  of  a  trial  wherein  I  could  be  defended  or 
defend  myself,  and  in  accordance  with  the  same  wrote  the 
following  letter  : 

"Seatco,  Thurston  Co.,  W.  T.,  June  21st,  1882. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingakd: 

I  hereby  api^ly  to  your  Honor  for  a  new  trial.  I  can  show  ten  times 
more  than  the  reasons  usually  deemed  sufficient  for  other  men.  The  sub- 
stance of  which  are  that  there  is  not,  and  never  was,  any  real  case  of  crime 
against  me,  and  there  was  and  is  an  abimdance  of  proof  to  eatabUsh  be- 
yond dispute  my  entire  innocence  of  any  crime.  That  I  simj^ly  killed  an 
assassin,  who  was  hunting  me  like  a  wild  beast  on  my  o\ra  home,  Avith  a 
cocked  carbine  in  both  hands  and  declared  miu'der  in  his  heart;  that  I  shot 
only  after  he  had  made  the  attack  and  fired  the  first  shot,  and  while  he  was 
trying  to  kill  me  with  his  gun  again  cocked;  that  I  thus  defended  my  life 
by  every  other  right,  besides  follo-ning  the  advice,  counsel  and  direction 
of  a  "court  of  justice";  that  my  commitment  to  jaU  was  bulldozed  by  a 
little  armed  gang  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  (which  gang  had  jDreviously 
tried  to  jump  another  portion  of  my  home,  to  which  I  had  a  U.  S.  patent) 
they  having  a  shyster  "lawyer"  f or  ^clerk  and  to  fix  up  the  jsroceedings, 
who  was  also  their  prosecuting  attorney,  and  I  was  not  pennitted  any 
defense. 

That  when  in  duress,  my  counsel  betrayed  or  sold  me,  kejit  me  m  jail 
for  over  nine  months,  while  they  helped  to  manage  my  conviction,  not- 
withstanding   you     had     declared    a    vilhngness   to    give  me    an    ira- 

(362) 


My  Eelease.  363 


mediate  trial,  or  examination,  wliich  slioiild  have  ended  my  trouble.  That 
they  extorted  my  means  of  defense  by  tlie  most  base,  false  pretenses,  and 
refused  to  be  discliarged  when  I  had  found  them  out.  ThatC. .  expressed 
with  me  at  court  great  surjjrise  at  the  trick  sprung  on  the  stand  (that  the 
gun  was  aimed  at  another),  when  it  transpired  that  he  had  before  granted 
this  in  his  charge  for  you  that  was  rejected.  That  he  had  previously  de- 
clared to  me,  that  he  "had  great  influence  "with  the  court,  that  it  loved  him 
though  he  despised  it,  and  that  he  had  written  a  charge  for  it  which  would 
be  the  charge  to  the  Jury,  and  under  which  I  must  be  acquitted,  so  it 
would  be  superfluous  to  make  out  or  show  all  of  my  case,"  or  to  hammer  to 
pieces  and  destroy  (as  could  be  done)  all  that  was  sworn  against  me. 

All  of  which  foregoing  I  will  swear  to  and  can  give  a  bill  of  particulars 
as  to  the  same,  as  conclusive  as  any  similar  victim  ever  can  under  the  same 
circumstances  and  duress. 

If  there  is  any  recourse  for  such  as  me  in  the  courts  of  this  country,  I 
want  to  find  it;  and  I  most  respectfully  and  courteously  hereby  apply  to 
you  to  assist  me  in  doing  so. 

Geo.  W.  France." 

I  also  applied  to  others  and  to  the  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  court,  only  to  find  it  to  be  so  exclusive  and  high- 
priced  and  prostituted  that  to  get  there  I  would  have  to  pave 
the  way  and  by-ways  with  gold  in  quantities  which,  by  this 
time,  I  had  not. 

Could  anarchy  be  any  worse  condition  for  the  common 
people  ? 

Some  months  after  the  delivery  of  my  epitome  to  the  Gov- 
ernor, he  was  at  the  bastile  and  I  took  occasion  to  spread  out 
a  copy  of  it  on  a  table  before  him,  and  urged  him  "  to  point  out 
a  single  move,  intent  or  act  in  my  conduct  as  to  the  fight,  or  any- 
where in  the  trouble  that  was  bad,  and  to  say  what  more  he 
required?  " 

To  which  he  replied  in  the  presence  of  others  (which  I 
have  the  documents  to  prove),  "  Of  course,  France,  you  have  a 
very  strong  case  ;  I  cannot  discuss  it  with  you,  but  I  will  let  you 
go  on  the  recommendation  or  favorable  report  of  the  Judge." 
To  which  I  replied,  "  You  know,  Governor,  that  Judge  "Win- 
gard  will  not  recommend  or  solicit  any  man's  pardon."  "But," 
he  replied,  "  I  do  not  require  that ;  you  get  only  a  favorable  re- 
port or  luord  from  him  and  I  luill  let  you  go." 

I  then  asked  him  if  he  knew  Mr.  N .  . ,  ex-president  of  the 
council,  and  "  whether  he  would  consider  him  a  reliable  man  ?  " 


304  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

to  which  he  replied  that  he  "  did  know  him  and  considered  him 
very  reliable,  indeed."  I  asked  him  to  "  publish  my  case  and 
argument  (epitome)  and  see  if  anyone  could  be  found  who 
would  assail  it  or  discuss  it  with  me."  No  reply.  I  then  sug- 
gested that  "  he  refer  the  question  of  pardon  to  any  three 
ministers,"  he  replied  he  "guessed  we  could  get  along  without 
preachers." '  (The  one  who  came  there  said  he  "  would  have 
done  just  as  I  did,  by  the  evidence.")  I  then  wrote  to  Mr.  N. . 
stating  to  him  what  the  Governor  had  promised,  and  requested 
him  to  see  the  Judge  accordingly,  to  which  Mr.  N .  .  replied  as 
follows  directed  to  me  : 

"Dayton,  W.  T.,  October  lOth,  1882. 
Mr.  Wm.  B.  .  [who  was  tlie  chief  contractor  of  the  bastile.] 

SiK : — You  will  do  me  a  favor  to  assist  Geo.  W.  France  to  get  a  jiardon. 
I  know  he  has  paid  the  jjenalty  of  the  crime, which  he  was  imiDrisoned  for. 
Therefore,  it  being  justice  to  the  man  and  the  laws,  I  ask  that  you  see  the 
Governor  and  state  the  case  to  him. 

Judge  Wingard  thinks  thai  France  is  entitled  to  a  pardon. 

Yours  truly, 

R.  G.  NewIiANd," 
Also  this  to  me  : 

Dayton,  W.  T.,  Oct.  10th,  1882. 

I  have  received  yours  of  the  7th,  inst.,  and  also 

one  before  that,  I  shoidd  have  answered,  but  Judge  Wingard  was  away  at 
the  time.  I  spoke  to  him  last  Saturday;  he  said,  he  was  willing  that  you 
should  have  an  unconditional  pardon  now,  and  I  hope  the  Governor  will 
grant  you  an  unconditional  pardon  immediately. 

Every  one  here  that  knows  anything  of  your  case  expresses  a  desire  to 
have  you  pardoned.  So  the  Governor  need  not  be  afraid  that  the  pubHc 
opinion  is  ojjposed  to  your  being  pardoned  out  of  prison. 

Yours  truly, 

K  G.  NEWIiAND." 

Not  hearing  from  this  effort,  I  addressed  the  Governor  as 
follows: 

"Seatco,  Oct.  26th,  1882. 
To  his  Excellency: — [Bill  Links.] 

I  herewith  send  your  Excellency  copies  of  letters  from  the  Hon.  R.  G. 
Newland,  transmitting  Judge  Wingard's  substantial  recommendation  for 
my  pardon.  Believing  that  this  fulfills  your  Excellency's  requirements 
and  trusting  that  you  will  not  be  unmindful  of  your  promise,  I,  therefore, 
have  sent  for  means  to  reach  the  wreck  of  my  home  and  family. 

I  presume  this  matter  has  been  presented  to  you  by  Mr.  B . . ,  as  he 


My  Kelease.  365 


has  promised  to  do  so,  and  ' '  lend  all  the  assistance  in  procuring  my  release 
that  hes  in  his  ijower,"  but  I  would  not  neglect  any  portion  of  dihgence, 
duty  or  pri\dlege  in  such  a  vital  matter  to  me  and  mine.  I  have  said  that  I 
was  ■willing  to  be  obligated  to  show  and  estabhsh  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Judge,  that  there  "was  not  even  the  shadow  of  any  true  case  of  crime 
against  me,  and  I  still  court  the  opportunity  to  do  so. 

Very  respectfully, 

Geo,  W.  France. 

Copy.  Seatco,  W.  T,,  November  24th,  1882. 

Deak  Sister: — Yours  of  the  8th,  inst.,  just  received,  with  $25;  but  my 
pardon  is  still  withheld,  notwithstanding  the  Judge's  substantial  recom- 
mendation and  the  Governor's  promise  that  this  would  effect  my  release. 
Geo.  "W.  France.  " 

From  my  Prison  Diary. 
"Jan.  20th,  1883. — Gov.  [Links]  here.  He  came  to  me,  spoke  and 
extended  his  hand  very  cordially;  examined  the  medicine  I  was  taking 
(digitalis,  iron  and  bismuth),  noted  my  condition,  saying:  "you  are  cer- 
tainly quite  unwell,"  etc.,  and  that  he  "■would  see  me  again  before  he  left." 
But  he  did  7iot,  and  left  without  me  getting  anything  out  of  him  as  to  my 
release  and  the  Judge's  substantial  recommendation.  He  is  on  his  way  to 
the  States." 

So  I  again  appealed  to  the  Judge,  as  follows : 

"Seatco,  W.  T.,  March  1st,  1883. 
The  Hon.  S.  C.  Wingard. — I  beg  your  Honor  to  consider  that  in 
August  next,  ^vithout  any  rebatement  (and  to  concede  to  me  the  time  I  lay 
in  jail  begging  for  a  trial),  I  will  have  suffered  five  years  of  most  terrible 
imprisonment  and  distress;  that  my  health  is  impaired,  and  that  my  home, 
that  I  toiled  the  best  years  of  my  Hfe  to  make,  my  means  of  hvelihood, 
family  and  affairs  are  in  a  most  encumbered  and  deplorable  condition,  be- 
yond my  control.  That,  as  I  am  placed,  I  cannot  attend  to  and  protect 
anything,  and  friends  who  would  help  me  declare  their  inability  to  do  so, 
and  that  I  am  "already  ruined  !  "  They  have  suggested  that  I  take  certaiu 
action  in  the  matter,  but  find  that  my  duress  is  such  that  I  cannot  ac- 
comi^hsh  anything,  nor  to  even  communicate  vidth  my  -wife  and  children 
to  know  definitely  the  projier  mode  to  pursue.  And  the  breach  is  made 
wider,  the  intriguing  coil  drawn  tighter,  and  the  ravage  more  ruinous  every 
day  and  hour.  I  beg  your  Honor  to  consider  that  I  have  ever  earnestly 
plead  and  affirmed  that  there  was  in  truth  never  a  stronger  case  of  self- 
defense,  and  that  there  was  and  is  indisputable  proof  to  establish  this  be- 
yond fair  question,  and  all  else  that  I  have  claimed.  And  I  have  continu- 
ally, from  the  day  of  the  tragedy,  plead  and  begged  for  an  oijportunity  to 
so  establish  it.  But  instead  of  granting  this  right  I  am  condemned  to 
destruction,  with  no  effective  recourse,  except  through  your  Honor's  more 
earnest  endeavor.  If  you  are  loth  to  otherwise  effect  my  release  mow,  under 


366  Extracts  from  Diary  Keit  in  Prison. 

such  -N-ital  and  critical  circivmstances  and  misfortune — far  reaching  as  they 
be — or  if  discredit  as  to  the  truth  of  anything  I  have  uttered  be  in  the  way, 
then  I  beg  that  you  recommend  and  urge  my  release  on  condition  that  I 
make  each  and  every  assertion  that  I  have  made  and  do  make  as  to  any 
phase  of  my  case,  situation,  condition  and  trouble,  good  and  estabhshed 
within  a  given  time  to  your  Honor's  satisfaction,  and  to  be  held  in  reason- 
able restraint  or  obhgation  till  the  same  be  done.  Grateful  for  favors 
done,  I  implore  you  to  consider  well  the  full  meaning  of  every  word  here- 
in uttered,  and  that  I  am  willing  to  stake  what  is  left  of  my  life  and  fortune 
on  the  truthfulness  of  my  assertions,  and  that  time  and  events  have  already 
proven  much  that  was  considered  as  with  a  sneer. 

Most  respectfully,  and  in  great  distress 

Geo.  W.  Fkance." 

March  6th,  1883. — Note  from  sister  M.  J.,  in  the  States,  dated  FeVy 
15th,  that  "they  were  telegraphing  to  find  the  Governor  to  interview  him, 
etc." 

March  18th. — Eeceived  letter  from  M.  J.,  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  where 
they  were  to  see  the  Governor,  who  had  just  left  very  suddenly,  but  inter- 
views his  son  and  intei'ests  other  jsarties,  so  that  they  are  confident  I  ' '  icill 
be  released  in  a  month."     Date  of  letter,  March  1st. 

March20th. — Received  the  following  terms  for  my  release,  in 
the  name  of  "  the  people  "  (?)  (that  had  really  declared  that 
thej  were  unanimous  for  my  restoration)  which  I  will  give  as  a 
fair  example  of  several  such  propositions  : 

"PoMEKOY,  Garfield  Co.,  W.  T.,  March  8th,  1883. 
G.  W.  Fbance,  Seatco,  W.  T. 

Deak  Sir: — I  write  to  you  to  ask  what  is  the  least  you  will  take  for 

a  deed  to  your  homestead 

This  is  private  between  us.  I  have  been  feeling  the  pulse  of  the  "people " 
and  trj'ing  in  every  way  to  see  what  chance  there  is  for  you  to  be  released. 
I  know  of  only  one  way  possible,  and  that  is  for  you  to  have  a  few  hundred 
dollars.  Would  communicate  the  facts,  if  I  knew  how  to  get  them  to  you 
privately. 

It  is  no  illegal  plan,  but  the  best  plans  are  sometimes  frustrated  by  too 
many  knowing  them. 

Let  me  hear  from  you  at  once,  and  the  least  you  will  take  in  cash  to 
sign  a  deed  to  the  land  named. 

Would  you  give  it  to  get  out  honorably,  if  it  could  not  be  effected  for 
less  ? 

Hoping  you  are  in  health,  I  remain  yours. 


Oh,  no  !  this  "people  "   (?)  ("who  clamor  ")  would  not  rob 
or  ravage,  or  murder  anybody.    They  would  only  give  them  "  a 


My  Release.  367 


fair  and  unprejudiced  trial,"  (?)  torture,  betray,  deceive  and  loot 
them  of  all — everijtldncj  they  possess !  And  do  it  so  "  legal- 
ly "  and  so  "  honorably  "  (?)  while  to  sand-bag  a  man,  take  only 
$9  and  a  silver  watch  and  let  him  go  on  home,  is  made  a  crime ! 

"  Oh,  consistency,  thou  art  a  jewel."  But  think  of  the  ex- 
cursion tickets,  the  segars  and  whiskey  and  newspaper  puffs 
this  "people  "  (?)  would  enjoy  out  of  so  many  years  of  toil  and 
lionest  endeavor!  Oh!  my  "people!'''  Would  you,  oh,  would 
you,  so  "  legally  "  and  so  "  honorably  "  picnic  in  my  miserable 
ruin,  or  "  clamor  "  that  I  die  ? 

Is  this  the  price  of  liberty  ?  No  !  not  even  that,  but  to  still 
toil  on  for  another  such  picnic  to  the  gang. 

«  ^Qr  THIS  his  sivord  the  midnight  ruffian  draws; 
For  THIS  the  licensed  murderer  spurns  the  laivs, 
Hears  his  proud  head  diminished  justice  o^er, 
His  trophies  loatWing  ivith  a  brother's  gore." 

"  The  dagger,  hid  in  honors  specious  guise." 

March  24th. — Governor  [Links]  here.  "Was  distant  and  cold,  said, 
"te  knew  my  case  as  well  or  better  tlian  I  did,  and  if  lie  wanted  to  talk 
any  more  to  me  about  it,  lie  would  let  me  know." 

"  There  was  a  laughing  devil  in  his  sneer." 

He  ivould  "smile  and  smile,  -while  secret  wounds  did  bleed  beneath  mv 
cloaJc." 

Perhaps  I  had  better  deliver  up  my  homestead,  my  HveHhood,  so 
many  years  of  honest  toil,  and  take  to  the  road.  Curse  them,  if  I  do ! 
"  Raised  the  fire  of  vengeance  in  the  heart."  But  how  do  I  know,  but  they 
woidd  take  the  price  and  hold  me  all  the  same,  or  put  me  in  the  ground  to  hide 
their  crimes,  as  no  secukity  is  held  out  that  I  would  not  yet  he  held. 

"Some  men  have  so  little  sense  of  honor,  that  they  do  not  regard  an 
oath  as  to  their  duty,  even  in  the  discharge  of  official  duty.  He  who  kicks 
at  this,  his  conscience  stings  and  is  the  man." 

March  26th. — Mr.  B. .  came  to  see  me;  said,  "  there  was  no 
public  sentiment  against  me  whatever,  and  that  the  people 
wanted  me  out,  except  members  of  the  gang,"  and  said  he 
"  would  see  the  devils  in  hell  he/ore  he  ivould  give  them  a  dollar 
more."     But  I  was  to  be  in  hell  while  they  were  in  clover. 

April  18th. — Eeceived  letter  from  M.  J.,  that  they  had  been  again  to 
New  Jersey  and  "were  assured  by  the  Governor's  son,  that  he  would  soon 
accomplish  my  release,"  etc. 


368  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

"Oh,  labor  to  keep  alive  in  your  breast  tbat  little  spark  of  celestial 
fire,  called  conscience." 

As  to  his  Excellency's  veracity:  he  writes  as  follows  to  a 
sister  in  the  States  : 

"  Tebkitoky  of  Washington. — ^Executive  Depaktment. 

Olympia,  March  30th,  1883. 

Deaij  Madam: — I  did  not  receive  your  note 

desiring  to  see  me  until  after  I  reached  this  place.  My  son,  Dr.  [Links], 
Jr.,  wrote  to  me.  I  have  given  much  investigation  to  the  case  of  Mr. 
France,  and  regret  to  inform  you,  that  it  was  a  much  more  aggravated  case 
of  mortal  shooting  than,  perhaps,  you  know  of.  His  case  was  fairly  tried 
and  the  Judge  consid&rs  the  penalty  not  excessive.  I  must  state  reluctantly  to 
you,  that  I  have  but  little  consideration  for  any  person  who  takes  human 
life,  except  in  clear  cases  of  self-defense. 

I  am  yours  truly, 

[BUI  Links.]" 

To  which  she  replies  as  follows  : 

Governor  [Links]. — Dear  Sik: — Yours  of  the  30th  of 

March  was  diQy  received  and  its  most  mysterious  contents  sadly  read,  and 
to  our  great  sorrow  not  favorable  to  my  brother's  release.  ^VJly  is  it  that 
Judge  Wingard  acts  so  strangely  in  this  matter?  He  certainly  has  to  others 
said  plainly  that  he  would  not  oppose  his  pardon,  besides  the  petition  for 

his  release  was  signed  by  almost  the  tvhole  community 

His  action  seems  so  strange. 

Did  you  not  long  ago  receive  a  letter  transmitting  Judge  Wingard's 
substantial  recommendation  for  his  pardon  ? 

The  cHque  who  set  [Jumper]  up,  to  get  brother  in  trouble,  was  gov- 
erned by  no  principle  or  feeling  but  those  which  avarice  and  unprincipled 
ambition  inspire,  and  are  prospering  on  brother'shard  earned  property;  and 
it  is  to  their  interest  to  keep  him  imprisoned  as  long  as  possible,  so  that  he 
may  have  nothing  left  with  which  to  redress  his  wrongs. 

I  can  very  easily  see  how  impossible  it  is  for  one  occupying  the  positon 
of  Governor,  to  understand  the  workings  of  so  deep  laid  a  plot.  Biit  should 
any  man  attack  another,  as  he  was  attacked,  on  his  own  home,  while  quiet- 
ly engaged  with  his  employees  sowing  wheat,  in  this  State  most  surely  the 
verdict  would  he  justifiable. 

Time  a\t11  con\dnce  you,  honored  sir,  of  the  innocence  of  any  crime, 
save  of  the  clique  and  [Jumper]  their  agent. 

My  dear  brother  is  losing  his  health  and  suffering  more  than  tongue 
can  tell,  and  innocent  asj/ou,  sir,  or  /of  any  crime,  save  that  of  defending  his 
own  life;  and  all  he  needs,  is  a  chance  to  show  that  there  was  not  even  a 
shadow  of  any  true  case  of  crime  against  him,  and  he  courts  the  op- 
portunity. 


My  Kelease.  369 


The  Jury  "vvas  composed  of  au  element  that  we  "would  all  be  very  slow 
iu  intrusting  so  important  a  case.  Some  men  have  no  sense  of  honor  and 
no  regard  for  their  oath. 

I  confess  myself,  that  I  would  have  very  little  consideration  for  any 
person  who  takes  human  life,  except  in  clear  cases  of  self-defense,  and  I 

am  s»re  that  iliis  was  such  a  case 

M.J." 

May  12th,  1883.—Recei\e  word  from  G.  H. . .  that  he  will  "urilh  the 
sanction  and  in  conjunction  with  Judge  Wingard'"  endeavor  to  get  me  I'eleased. 

[Which  is  the  opposite  of  his  Excellency's  statement,  that 
*'  the  Judge  considers  the  sentence  not  excessive;"  so  one  or  the 
other  evidently  lies  ;  or  else  the  Judge  is  "  strange,"  indeed.] 

' '  Calumny  is  often  added  to  oppression,  if  hut  for  ike  sake  of  justifying  it. " 

But  I  have  a  few  friends  left  through  all  such  reports  of 
"  the  lying  gang,"  and  some  of  them  urge  the  "  good  Judge  "  to 
recommend  my  release  direct  to  the  Governor,  and  to  establish 
who  it  is  that  is  such  a  cold-blooded,  villainous,  brutal,  cow- 
ardly, unmitigated  liar,  and  he  replies  as  follows  : 

"  Walla  Walla,  W.  T.,  June  1st,  1883. 
His  Excellency  [Bill  Links] ,  Governor. 

Sir: — George  W.  France,  now  in  the  Ter.  penitentiary  under  sen- 
tence for  murder  in  the  second  degree,  has  served  imjirisonment  as  long  as  1 
would  have  sentenced  him  to  undergo,  had  the  law  allowed  a  less  sentence  than 
I  imposed.      Very  resjyectfully, 

S.  C.  WiNGAKD,  Judge." 

The  foregoing  document  is  considered  by  other  Governors 
to  be  alone  recommendation  enough  to  release  prisoners,  with 
nothing  else  done  in  their  behalf.  One  Governor  (Knott)  de- 
clared in  his  inaugural  address  that  he  would  grant  pardons  or 
commute  sentences  "  only  when  the  court  is  satisfied  that  the 
sentence  is  unjust." 

And  to  hold  me  longer  with  this  staring  him  in  the  face 
was  to  rob  and  torture  me  on  the  flimsy  pretext  of  a  mere  tech- 
nical sentence  that  had  been  thus  abrogated  by  the  "  good  Judge." 
The  Governor  was  so  guilty  that  he  would  not  face  me  any 
more  to  talk,  or  make  any  reply  to  this  recommendation  ;  he 
heeded  it  no  more  than  he  had  the  other.  He  would  not  even 
criticise  or  make  objection  to  it.  The  question  now  was  "  what 
excuse  would  he  invent  next  to  spit  at  my  stand  by  friends,  to 
injure  me,  and  yet  not  aggravate  them  so  they  would  get  mad 
24 


370  EXTUACTS  FilOM  DiARY  KePT  IN   PRISON. 

and  howl  out  liis  brutal  aud  mysterious  conduct  to  the  public  ?  " 
So  they  aud  I  were  always  being  advised  to  "  keep  still." 

But  /  could  get  mad  and  still  be  damned  ;  for  could  they 
not  squelch  my  letters,  etc.,  and  thus  keep  me  in  the  dark,  and 
the  truth  hid  from  the  people  who  "  clamor  ?  "  This  censorship 
over  a  prisotier's  correspondence  should  he  killed  ! 

July  8tli. — "E.  F. . .  and  J. . .  jumped  again." 
July  10th.—''  T. . .  and  F. . .  jumped." 

And  who  could  honestly  blame  them  to  jump  from  such  a 
hell  and  such  a  Governor?  Why  should  they  be  in  prison  and 
the  lying  gang  in  clover?  They  had  a  right  -by  the  higher  law 
of  Heaven — to  wade  over  the  carcasses  of  such  as  would  hold 
them  there. 

July  13ta. — S. . .  came  here  from  Dayton;  broxiglit  -word  from  B. . . 
that  "lie  was  going  to  -work  to  get  me  out,"  etc. 

July  23rd. — Get  note  ["underground"]  from  a  friend,  as  follows: 
" Copy  of  Judge  W. 's  recommendation  received;  all  riglit.  Be  jjatient. 
Your  release  will  surely  come  ere  long  from  tlie  Governor." 

"We  had  to  smuggle,  when  we  could,  such  vital  papers, 
letters  and  life-or-death  business — out  and  in  the  bastile — so 
they  would  not  be  squelched  by  the  lackeys  of  the  gang. 

July  29th. — I  get  the  following  :  "  We  have  just  returned  from  Tren- 
ton again;  7iow  make  your  calculations  to  be  released  very  soon." 

"  Oh,  w^hat  a  tangled  web  we  weave, 
Whene'er  we  i^ractise  to  deceive!  " 

Aug.  5th. — Received  letter  from  Mr.  W. . .  [It  was  registered,  so  I  got 
it;  but,  though  he  wrote  several  others,  I  did  not  get  any  of  them.]  He 
says,  that  "Judge  B. . .  is  working  for  my  release;  had  written  to  the  Gov- 
ernor aud  to  Judge  Wingard;  that  he  was  jDersonally  acquainted  with 
them  both,  and  that  he  would  go  and  see  the  Governor  and  urge  my 
release;  and  they  were  'very  conjident  (^  success.^  Also,  that  my  wife 
was  working  for  my  release  and  thought  it  so  ve^y  strange,  I  did  not 
get  her  letters.'" — [I  had  written  a  dozen  letters  to  her  without  receiving 
any  reply.] 

It  afterwards  transpired  that  his  Excellency  next  invented 
for  an  excuse  to  still  hold  on  to  me  ;  not  that  he  "  was  consider- 
ing my  case,'  nor  "that  it  was  not  yet  time  to  consider  it,"  nor 
that  "  the  people  would  clamor,"  nor  that  "  I  had  had  a  fair 
trial  by  an  unprejudiced  jury  and  a  ''good  Judge,"  nor  that 


-  3  H  A  f?  p 

OT   TRR 

xN  j.VERSI': 


My  Eelease.  37>s£Lcaliforn\^ 


"my  case  was  such  an  aggravated  one,"  nor  yet  that  "the  good 
Judge  did  not  consider  the  sentence  excessive,"  because  all  of 
these  excuses  were  now  worn  out  and  known  to  my  friends  to 
he  false  pretexts,  and  he  knew  that  they  knew  them  thus  to  be. 
But  as  his  conduct  had  not  made  my  friends  desperate  or 
dangerous  to  him,  but  only  disgusted  and  sick,  and  as  he  was 
keeping  me  choked  down  (I  "  tmist  keep  quiet ! ")  he  could 
therefore  feed  tliem  most  anything  to  keep  tlcem  sick  and  still, 
while  I  ivas  dying  in  the  agony  of  suspense  and  of  despair.  So 
he  spit  this  rot  into  the  face  of  Judge  B .  .  and  others,  that  my 
"  conduct  ivas  very,  VEEY  had.  " 

Great  God  !  Is  a  man  supposed  to  have  any  "  conduct " 
after  so  many  years  of  cruel  torture,  and  ravage,  and  betrayal, 
and  lying  deceit  ?  Deluded,  deceived,  oppressed,  trifled  with, 
and  murdered  in  a  living  tomb  ? 

"  Oh  judgement  thou  art  fled  to  bridish  beasts, 
And  men  have  lost  their  reason." 

And  if  he  still  lives  and  has  some  kind  of  "  conduct "  left  is 
he  to  blame  ? 

And  yet,  during  this  very  time  the  chief  prison  officials 
were  promising  to  recommend  my  pardon  to  the  Governor  "  if 
he  would  but  request  it  of  them."  And  neither  they  or  the 
Governor  had  any  charge  against  my  conduct  to  make  to  my 
face. 

About  this  time  a  friend  told  them  that  "it  was  a  G — d 

d d  brutal  outrage  for  them  to  hold  on  to  me  as  they  did." 

Nor  did  they  dispute  or  discuss  the  matter  with  him  either, 
though  he  put  it  to  them  in  their  own  language. 

Aug.  15th. — Eeceived  tlie  following  from  the  States  :  "Judge  K. . . 
is  hourly  expecting  an  answer  by  telegraph  from  the  Governor." 

"Not  so  your  friend — with  grief  oppressed  I  see 
That  peace,  which  smiles  on  many,  frown  on  me." 

Sept.  ISth. — "So  far  we  can  hear  nothing  from  the  Governor.  We 
are  doing  everything  that  can  he  done,  to  get  him  to  act  at  once." 

Sept.  25tli. — "We  are  still  in  suspense.     Judge  R. . .  and  are 

doing  (dl  in  their  jMiver" 

(It  takes  a  lot  of  killing,  expensive  experience  and  a  long  time 
for  outsiders  to  learn  the  mystic,  traitorous  ways  of  a  secret 
gang.) 


372  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

Then  tlie  Governor's  sou  wrote  to  a  sister  as  follows  : 

"Tkenton,  N.  J.,  Oct.  2iitl,  1883. 

My  father  wrote  me  in  reference  to  your  brother, 

and  I  do  not  think,  from  the  tenor  of  his  letter,  that  he  is  very  favor- 
able towards  his  pardon. 

I  anticipate  going  to  Washington  Territory  about  November  1st. 
Please  write  to  me  and  give  me  your  brother's  full  name,  I  have  for- 
gotten it.     Yours  very  truly,  [BUI  Links],  Jr." 

[And  so,  even  he  had  to  judge  by  the  were  "  tenor  "  of  the 
Governor's  letter,  as  to  what  he  would  do.] 

October  1st. — Legislature  met,  and  reports  come  that  some 
of  the  members  and  others  are  determined  to  secure  my  re- 
lease ;  whereupon  the  "  doctor-Go vernor-and-the-law "  ex- 
claimed to  a  number  of  men  :  "  Well,  by  G-o-a-d,  France  is  a 
man  that  always  behaves  himself  and  attends  to  his  own  busi- 
ness, and  he  has  been  here  long  enough,  by  G-o-a-d,"  which 
did  not  correspond  with  his  Excellency's  rot  to  distant  friends 
"  that  my  conduct  was  exceedingly  bad,"  and  some  of  such  dis- 
tant friends  blamed  and  lectured  and  charged  we  severely  over 
and  over  again  to  "  behave  myself  and  keep  quiet  !  "  "Oh,  they 
could  not  help  me  unless  I  loould  quit  being  so  bad,  and  luas  very 
quiet.'"  "  Yes  !  '  in  some  way  '  (but  ivhat  way  they  could  not  dis- 
cover, except  that  I  did  not  keep  still  enough.)  I  had  offended 
the  Governor!''  [Horrible,  horrible  thought,  to  "oifend"  his 
Excellency  (?)] 

That  such  slimy  cattle  as  these  blackleg  governors  could  in 
any  way  get  my  friends  to  doubt  me,  hnoivn  as  I  was  to 
them,  made  my  flesh  creep  and  me  feel  that : 

"With  friends  and  falsehood  I  have  done  : 

I've  fifty  had  and  yet  not  one, 

They  are  only  adders  in  the  breast : 

That  nestling  in,  devour  their  nest; 

That  pleasing  dream  forever  o'er 

My  bosom  I  unlock  no  more, 

Yet  though  all  hope  oi  friends  is  fled, 

I'll  place  acquaintance  in  their  stead, 

I  weep  the  sad  exchange  I  own, 

(For  my  poor  heart's  not  callous  grown.") 
But  the  governor  never  dared  to  tell,  outside  of  the  gang, 
wherein  I  "  off'ended"  or  my  "conduct  was  so  exceedingly  bad." 


My  Release.  373 


Those  who  heard  the  superintendent  and  others  talk  about 
it  at  this  time,  thought  I  would  be  released  sicre. 

A  member  of  the  Legislature  from  my  section  said,  "France 
did  wrong,  but  if  he  had  not  killed  the  man,  he  loould  have  killed 
France  1 " 

Copy.  "Seatco,  Wash.  Territory,  October  14th,  1883. 

Hon.  S.  C.  "Wingard  : 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  certificate,  etc.,  of  June  1st,  1883,  was  gratefuJly 
received  aud  sent  to  the  Governor,  hut  has  afforded  me  no  rehef .  Have 
not  the  wishes  of  those  who  so  criminally  conspired  to  murder,  plunder, 
and  outrage  me  and  my  family  been  sufficiently  gratified  and  Sitnotioned? 
You  must  certainly  know — if  you  have  taken  any  pains  to  find  out  the 
truth — that  there  was  not  the  shadow  of  any  true  case  of  crime  against  me. 
But  if  you  think  there  was,  then  why  don't  y oh  name  io  me  the  point  or 
points,  or  phase  in  which  you  may  think  me  guilty,  and  give  me  a  respect- 
ful hearing  as  to  the  same,  inasmuch  as  I  was  not  accorded  this  at  the 
more  projjer  time  ?  I  was  thus  shanghaied  in  your  court  and  sentenced  to 
this  prison  by  yourself  ;  but  you  have  certified  to  the  effect  that  you  did 
not  quite  mean  it  to  be  my  destruction,  and  for  which  I  am  certainly  duly 
grateful.  But  how  near  it  has  destroyed  me  and  mine  you  must  be  aware; 
and  as  the  Governor  is  as  he  is,  will  you  not  therefore  please  concede  to 
urge  my  case  yet  more  strongly  and  effectively  after  all  these  years  of 
suffering  and  abuse,  and   of  cheating  hopes  ? 

Most  respectfully,         Geo.  W.  France." 

The  efforts  of  those  who  were  to  get  me  out  having  availed 
nothing,  I  made  the  following  appeal  to  the  Legislature  : 

"Seatco  Prison,  Wash.  Territory,  November  17th,  1883. 
To  the  President  of  the  council  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House — the  honor- 
able Legislature  at  Olympia,  Wash.  Territory. 

I  hereby  earnestly  request  that  your  body  investigate  my  case  ;  there 
never  bemg  any  true  case  of  crime  against  me,  as  is  shown  beyond  disjjute 
or  refutation  to  his  Excellency,  the  'Governor.  My  case  being  in  truth — 
as  can  be  seen — the  strongest  case  of  self-defense  ever  brought  to  tiial  in 
this  Territory  Avith  an  abundance  of  proof  to  establish  it. 

And  I  have  the  strongest  petitions,  vouchers,  recommendations,  etc. , 
ever  filed  at  Olympia  in  a  similar  case,  including  a  goodly  portion  of  the 
jury,  the  Judge  and  all  of  my  neighbors  (except  one)  for  my  release.  And 
his  Excellency  promised  to  "let  me  go  on  the  recommendation  ov  favor- 
able report  of  the  Judge. "  Yet  I  am  being  thus  held  to  the  destruction  of 
my  health,  and  the  ravage  of  my  family  and  home  I  carved  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  where  three  of  my  children  were  bom.  I  beg  for  an  investiga- 
tion in  which  I  am  accorded  a  respectful  healing,  which  my  established 
character  should  entitle  me  to  receive  ;  or  that  I  be  allowed  to  make  my 


374  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

case  known  to  the  Chiistian  associations  of  tlie  country,  and  to  attend  to 
my  business.  Geo.  W.  FiiANCE." 

"  WAiiiiA  WAiiiiA,  Wash.  Tebkitoky,  June  1st,  1883. 
His  Excellency  [BiU  Links]  Governor  : 

Sir  : — George  W.  France,  now  in  the  Ter.  penitentiary  under 
sentence  for  murder  in  the  second  degree,  has  served  imjn'isonment  as  long  as 
[would  have  sentenced  him  to  undergo  had  the  law  allowed  a  less  sentence  than 
I  imposed.  Very  respectfully, 

S.  C.  WiNGAKD,  Judge." 
G.  W.  F." 

In  tlie  published  report  of  the  legislative  proceedings  of 
November  27th,  1883,  was  the  following,  and  all  the  papers 
publishing  the  legislative  proceedings  contained  substantially 
the  same  paragraph  : 

"  A  petition  was  read  from  a  jarisoner  now  confined  in  the  penitentiary 
at  Seatco  named  Geo.  W.  France,  certified  to  by  Judge  Wingard,  relative 
to  his  confinement,  and  asking  for  an  investigation  of  his  case.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  examme  into  the  matter  and  report." 

"  December  13th,  1883  :  -  Governor  [Links]  and  son  here; 
the  latter  sought  an  interview  with  me  and  informed  me  that 
he  "  had  promised  my  people  in  the  States  to  do  all  he  could 
with  his  father  for  my  release  but  had  not  as  yet  presented  my 
case  to  him,"  [which  made  me  acquainted  with  him,  for  he  had 
arrived  at  Olympia  nearly  a  month  previously,  and  now  he  had 
710  information  for  me  and  did  not  ivant  any  from  me.  The  Gov- 
ernor was  polite  enough,  asked  me  how  long  I  had  served, 
thought  I  looked  better  in  health,  etc.,  and  inquired  about 
some  of  my  folks  in  the  States,  but  had  never  a  ivord  to  say 
about  my  "  bad  conduct "  that  he  had  been  and  was  reporting 
to  others.  I  could  not  get  any  information  from  him  as  to  my 
release.  They  returned  to  Olympia  when  Dr.  [Links],  jr.  sent 
the  following  letter  to  the  States  : 

*'Terkitoky  of  Washington,  Executive  Department. 

OiiYMPiA,  December  13th,  1883. 


I  went  to  see  your  brother  Geo.  W.  France  to-day.  I  have  not  had 
an  oj^portunity  prior  to  this.  Your  brother  seemed  to  be  quite  cheerful. 
My  father  has  not  been  able  to  do  anything  for  him  as  yet.  I  do  not  know 
exactly  what  course  he  means  to  pursue. 

Yours  very  truly,  [BrLL  Links],  jr." 


My  Kelease.  375 


[Those  who  wilfully  tolerate  secret  "mystery^'  in  office, 
should  be  made  to  suffer  its  practical  workings  direct.] 

"  January  Itli,  1884. — Dr.  Links,  jr.,  in  rei^ly  to  a  letter  wrote  :  "I 
had  a  free  conversation  with  your  broth'er  concerning  his  case,  and  under- 
stand it  thoroughly.  The  legislature  did  not  appoint  any  committee  to  in- 
vestigate his  case.     Judge  Wingard  has,  not  recommended  his  iJardon. 

Yours,  etc.,  [Bill  Links],  jr." 

We  had  no  conversation  about  my  case  at  all.  He  did  not 
want  any.  As  to  the  other  matters  they  are  on  record,  as  I  have 
shown.  A  committee  of  three  ivas  appointed  by  the  legislature, 
but  one  of  my  shyster  lawyers  and  one  of  my  jury  (both  masons 
and  wicked  enemies)  managed  to  get  on  to  it  in  the  deadly 
guise  of  friendship,  and  thus  was  the  investigation  and  report 
squelched.  I  wrote  several  letters  to  the  committee  but  could 
never  get  any  reply  or  any  hearing. 

A  member  of  that  legislature  told  me  that  "  Judge  Wingard 
joined  in  urging  him  and  other  members  to  work  for  my  re- 
lease, but  that  'they  had  no  influence  tvhatever  with  the  Governor 
in  my  behalf.''  "  [He  evidently  owed  first  allegiance  to  his  secret 
siuorn  brethren  and  their  government.] 

"January  9th,  1884. — Dr.  Links,  jr.,  came  here  as  j^rison  physician. 

"  January  2.5rrf.— Governor  [Links]  here.  Tasked  him  if  he  would  let 
me  go  ?  He  replied  that  lie  "  would  see  about  it;"  so  he  has  quit  "  con- 
sideiing  "  it  and  is  going  to  "  see  about  it."  Sincerity  never  thus  equivo- 
cates. 

Who  is  it  that  is  an  unmitigated  liar  ?  From  Judge  Win- 
gard : 

"  Walla  Walla,  Wash.  Teekitokt,  January  26th,  1884. 


Your  favor  of  the  16th  inst.  is  received.  I  sentenced  Mr.  France  to 
the  minimum  term  of  ten  years.  If  I  could  have  done  so  I  would  have 
sentenced  him  to  five  years  imjirisonment,  because  in  my  oi^iuion  that 
would  have  been  aU  he  desei-ved.  I  have  Aratten  to  the  Governor  saying 
that  five  years  imprisonment  would  atone  for  his  ciime.  Why  the  Gov- 
ernor does  not  pardon  him  I  do  not  know.  I  have  heard,  but  could  not 
prove  it,  that  Mr.  France  has  ofi'ended  the  Governor  in  some  way.  The 
relations  of  the  Governor  and  myself  in  regard  to  pardoning  have  not  been 
harmonious.     The  Judge  has  no  power  to  j^ardon. 

Resi^ectfuUy  yours,  etc.,  S.  C.  Wingakd." 

In  what  way  did  I  offend  (?)  his  Excellency  ?      Was  it  be- 


376  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

cause  I  did  not  surrender  the  wreck  of  my  home,  or  ivhaf  ?    Why 
did  he  not  dare  to  state  wherein  I  "  ofifended  "  him  ?  And  again: 

"Walla  Waii-a,  Wash.  Tekeitokt,  February  13,  1884. 


Yours  of  the  5th  inst.  enclosing  the  letter  of  [Bill  Links],  jr.,  is  at 
hand.     I  hereT\ith  return  said  letter  as  you  request. 

The  letter  which  I  wrote  to  the  Governor — the  substance  of  which  I 
stated  in  my  last  letter  to  you — ^I  sent  to  Geo.  W.  France,  and  I  know  he 
received  it.  What  he  did  -with  it  I  do  not  know.  It  is  to  be  supposed  he 
sent  it  to  the  Governor  [of  course,  I  did].  I  know  nothing  of  Mr.  France's 
family  since  I  refused  to  enteiiain  her  (Mrs.  F)  aiijjUcation  for  a  divorce. 
Respectfully  yours,  S.  C.  Wingakd." 

The  Governor  and  Co.  seemed  to  think  that  their  efforts  to 
make  this  a  secret  prison  were  entirely  successful,  so  that 
people  must  take  their  ivordsfor  the  truth,  while  the  facts  would 
be  squelched  when  the  victims  were  made  to  "  keep  still"  And 
according  to  the  following  from  the  son  and  "  executive  clerk  " 
I  was  getting  along  splendidly,  so  why  was  the  rush  and  clamor 
about  me  getting  out  into  the  cold,  cruel  world  !  Nor  does  it 
appear  that  I  was  "  offensive  "  to  anybody  here  or  to  the  gov- 
ernor. It  is  the  cruel,  unjust  "  people  "  again  who  are  so  hos- 
tile," and  would  "  clamor  "  against  my  liberty.  But  why  did 
they  not  tell  this  to  the  picople,  or  their  true  representatives  ?  To 
them  the  pretext  was,  that  "  my  conduct  icas  had,"  or  I  had  in 
some  mysterious  way  "  offended  the  Governor,"  and  why  did  he 
hold  me  through  all  those  pjrevious  years  of  unjust  suffering 
and  destruction,  during  which  time  it  was  conceded  that  my  con- 
duct was  good  ? 

But  what  need  he  care  about  my  "  offensive  "  conduct  as 
an  unwilling  victim  to  depravity,  when  the  people  with  whom  I 
had  and  was  to  live  were  so  well  satisfied  with  my  conduct  as  a 
citizen  among  them  that  they  clamored  for  my  restoration  ? 

' '  Teekitoey  of  Washington,  ExECuirvE  Depaetment, 
Olympia,  January  24:th,  1884 


Your  letter  received.  In  regard  to  yoiu*  brother's  pardon  I  will  say 
that  no  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  investigate  his  case. 

I  saw  Mr.  France  yesterday  ;  he  is  in  good  health  and  spirits.  It  is 
impossible  for  you,  without  jjractical  knowledge  of  frontier  hfe,  to  under- 
stand how  hostile  the  people  are  to  jjardou  persons  who  have  committed 


My  Eelease.  377 


capital  offenses,  and  liow  difficult  it  is  for  the  Executive  to  carry  out  his 
personal  inclinations,  especially  in  cases  where  prisoners  are  well  con- 
nected, and  interest  manifested  in  their  release.  The  Governor  would 
gladly  accede  to  your  request,  but  there  is  at  this  time  so  much  of  violent 
crimes  committed  that  the  public  \dsit  their  extremest  indignation  at  any 
liberality  exercised  in  this  direction. 

Just  so  soon  as  he  can  consistently  do  so,  he  wUl  give  favorable  con- 
sideration to  your  application  in  behalf  of  your  brother.. 
Yoiu-s  respectfully, 

[Bniii  Links]  jr.,  Executive  Clerk." 

At  the  very  time  tlie  doctor  and  executive  clerk  says  I  was 
"in  good  health  and  spirits,"  he  was  dosing  me  with  digitalis, 
opium,  bromide  and  iron — standard  medicine  for  heart  disease, 
with  which  they  had  afflicted  me.  And  he  repeatedly  stated 
that  he  was  "  giving  me  stronger  medicine,  and  more  of  it,  than 
he  gave  out  to  any  other  patient  that  he  had,  as  my  condition 
required  it." 

And  the  governor,  who,  when  bounced  as  Governor,  suc- 
ceeded his  son  as  prison  doctor,  frequently  censured  and  forbid 
me  giving  any  of  my  medicine  to  others  similarly  afflicted,  as  "it 
was  too  strong  for  their  condition."  Sometimes  it  seemed  that 
they  were  determined  that  I  should  die  here,  and  were  I  not 
endowed  with  exceedingly  strong  vitality  they  would  have  suc- 
ceeded, so  that  I  would  never  have  a  hearing !  And  how 
"  good  [?]  my  spirits  "  were  in  such  a  dying  condition,  can 
never  be  told. 

Not  satisfied  to  defame  me  as  to  my  case,  my  family,  my 
conduct  and  my  standing  with  the  people  !  they  must  lie  about 
my  condition,  when  vainly  struggling  for  even  a  hearing  in  my 
own  behalf,  and  sufiering  in  their  hell  of  a  living  and  dying 
tomb  all  the  tortures  that  devils  could  inflict  and  their  victims 
endure ! 

But  I  always  hoped  and  prayed  for  something  of  a  here- 
after, wherein  I  would  be  accorded  as  much  as  a  respectful  and 
honest  hearing  that  would  be  beneficial  to  others  if  not  to  my- 
self ;  and  I  managed  to  get  the  following  certificate  from  tlie 
ex-Governor : 

"Seatco,  W.  T.,  August  30th,  1886. 
George  W.  France  has  been  confined  for  many  years,  his  heart  action 


378  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

is  very  weak  and  impaires  liis  health  generally.    He  has  been  under  medi- 
cal treatment  for  four  years.  [Biiiij  Links]  M.D. 

Physician  to  the  Territorial  Penitentiary." 

As  to  the  "  people  [?]  of  the  frontier,"  even  the  tender- 
feet  of  Boston  and  New  York  knew  and  have  always  known  that 
the  " j:>eop?e  of  the  frontier"  are  never  "hostile"  to  a  home- 
builder  for  killing  a  robber  and  assassin  in  the  act,  even  if  he 
did  belong  to  the  same  secret  sworn  brotherhood  as  the  gov- 
ernor, who  is  his  accessory  !  "  The  people  of  the  frontier  "  are 
never  hostile  to  a  man  for  killing  even  a  mere  burglar,  or  incen- 
diary, or  horse  thief,  or  "  member  of  the  bar,"  or  any  other 
blackleg  thief,  no  matter  what  his  title  may  be,  or  whether  he 
parades  the  Bible  through  the  streets  and  wears  for  a  blind 
emblems  of  honest  toil. 

And  the  more  such  "  violent  crimes "  are  meted  out  to 
such  vampires,  the  better  do  the  peojjle  like  it ;  because  the 
courts  being  so  prostituted,  this  is  often  their  only  recourse  to 
hold  what  they  have  honestly  earned,  and  they  would  rather 
kill  vampires  than  for  them  to  picnic  in  their  ruins.  It  is  only 
members  of  the  gang  that  are  hostile  to  their  entire  extinction. 

And  by  the  laws  of  Moses,  a  man  is  justified  in  killing  them 
even  when  they  are  only  "breaking  in  at  the  gate"  unarmed,  and 
only  to  steal ! 

By  considering  the  courts  as  gateways  to  the  homes  and 
property,  and  even  the  liberty  and  justice  of  the  people  :  how 
many  midnight  blacklegs  are  there  on  the  frontiers,  who  "  are 
breaking  in  through  these  gates"  (whose  guards  are  prostituted 
and  drunk  with  plunder)  to  rob  and  pillage,  to  ravage,  mur- 
der, torture,  deceive  and  defame  !  that  they  may  picnic  in  the 
ruins  and  gloat  over  the  misery  of  their  victims  ? 

Not  by  the  laws  of  Moses  only,  but  by  the  spirit  of  all 
criminal  laws  from  Mount  Sinai  to  the  Seatco  hell,  honestly 
meted  out,  and  by  the  rights  of  man  to  hold  and  enjoy  his  own, 
such  vampires  should  die. 

By  the  Egyptian  law  :  "  To  see  a  man  struggling  for  his 
life  with  an  assassin  and  to  fail  to  assist  him,  ivas  a  capital  crime.'" 

There  are  thousands  of  men  in  secret  prisons  st^-uggling 
ivith  assassins  and  their  accessories  as  you  are  7'eading  this ;  and 
will  you,  my  felloiv-man,  do  nothing  to  assist  them  ? 


My  Eelease.  379 


It  is  when  these  vampires  and  gallinippers — reeking  with 
crime  and  desolation — are  set  free,  protected,  or  sanctioned  by 
their  secret  brethren,  in  office  and  out,  that  the  people  do  and 
should  "  visit  their  extremest  indignation." 

For  examjjle  : — When  the  ex-Governor  applied  for  office  by 
the  votes  of  the  people,  he  got  only  one  vote  in  the  four  coun- 
ties wherein  my  case  was  best  known.  And  later,  when  he 
was  nominated  by  another  ring  governor  as  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  insane  asylum,  he  was  rejected  hj  all  hut  tivo  votes,  while 
the  other  nominees  were  confirmed  by  the  Legislature. 

"January  2nd,  1884. — J.  H. .  pardoned  ;  had  served  twenty  months 
on  four  years  for  grand  larceny  and  forgery,  had  no  petition  whatever,  as 
far  as  any  of  us  can  learn — secret  influence.  P.  S.  — He  steals  $20  from  a 
trunk,  and  is  next  heard  of  in  a  hospital  at  Portland,  down  with  snakes  in 
his  boots. 

'■'•February  13th. — Governor  [Links]  here  ;  I  complained  to  him  of  the 
refusal  of  the  warden  to  mail  my  epitome  to  be  published,  as  I  had  com- 
plained before,  "and  that  I  was  prevented  from  attending  to  my  most 
vital  business;"  he  replied,  that  "he  (himself)  had  not  killed  a  man,"  and 
that  "I  did  not  manifest  any  symjDathy  for  the  man  I  killed."  I  replied, 
that  "  were  I  killed  in  the  act  of  murdering  a  man  to  rob  him,  I  would  not 
be  entitled  to  any  sympathy  and  would  not  get  any."  But  he  manifestly 
holds,  that  it  is  no  crime  for  one  of  his  gang  to  murder,  rob  and  ravish, 
for  he  has  never  had  a  word  to  say  against  his  conduct,  not  a  word.  Nor 
has  the  warden  (another  secret  brother)  who  has  likewise  insinuated  that  I 
should  join  in  hiding  the  crime,  and  revere  the  name  of  his  brother 
villain.  No  wonder  that  the  worst  characters  that  come  here  mean  to  join 
the  gang  on  their  release." 

"  February  14t]i.—R . .  gets  a  windfall  of  $20,000.  There  was  no  fool- 
ishness about  his  getting  his  short  time,  which  was  almost  due.  He  had 
killed  a  man  in  a  saloon  and  got  one  year." 

I  thought  I  would  discover  whether  the  Government  at 
Washington,  which  the  people  so  blindly  elect,  cared  as  much 
for  a  distressed  and  ravaged  home-builder  in  his  own  country,  as  it 
does  for  some  blackleg  free-mason  or  odd-fellow  in  trouble  in 
a  foreign  land. 

"Seatco  Pkison,  Wash.  Tekkitoky,  February  25th,  1884. 
His  Excellency,  President  Arthur,  and  the  Congress  of  the  United  States : — 
Is  there  any  recourse  for  a  victim  falsely  and  cruelly  imj^iisoned  here, 
and  when  it  has  and  can  be  shown  beyond  dispute  or  refutation  that  there 
never  was  the  shadow  of  any  true  case  of  crime  against  me  ?  It  being  in 
truth  as  strong  a  case  of  self-defense  as  ever  went  to  trial — that  of  defend- 


380  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

ing  my  life  on  my  own  hard-earned  home  against  a  most  damnable  and 
furioTTS  assault  to  murder  for  plunder  and  ravage  ;  hunting  me  Avhile 
peacefully  at  work,  mth  a  cocked  carbine  in  both  hands,  and  filing  the 
fij-st  shot,  vdih.  &n  abundcmce  0/ indisputable  proof — both  personal  and  cir- 
cumstantial to  verify  the  same,  with  verified  statements,  jietitions,  vouch- 
ers, etc.,  etc.,  constituting  the  strongest  claim  for  justice  and  clemency 
ever  filed  in  the  Territory — including  that  of  my  neighbors  almost  unani- 
mously, four  judges  on  the  bench,  and  a  goodly  portion  of  the  jury  that 
aided  in  shanghaiing  me,  and  all  in  vain. 

That  to  despoil  me  of  my  fortune  and  work  my  desti'uctiou,  I  have 
been  thus  imjirisoned  five  and  a  half  years,  Avrecking  my  health,  ravaging 
my  home,  sucking  my  heart's  blood. 

That  by  honorable  toil  and  conduct  I  helped  to  build  this  country, 
and  therefore  have  a  right  to  protection  against  the  sharks  and  cut-throats 
— who  are  so  powerful  here — and  my  children  to  theii-  rightful  heritage  on 
which  they  were  born. 

That  the  Legislature  here  appointed  a  committee  to  investigate  my 
case,  but  it  failed  to  report  the  crime  done  against  me,  or  to  accord  me  a 
hearing.  Therefore,  I  hereby  appeal  to  your  Excellency  and  to  Congress 
for  such  relief  as  is  found  to  be  just. 

I  can  be  found  as  an  old  settler  on  the  records  of  the  land  department 
for  the  Walla  Walla  district ;  and  our  delegate  knows  enough  of  my  case 
to  vouch  for  me  if  he  is  so  minded,  as  well  as  others  there." 

[I  concluded  mth  Judge  Wingard's  recommendation.] 

I  liad  to  send  this  out  "  underground,"  and  I  never  learned 
whether  it  was  lost  before  it  was  mailed,  or  was  squelched  at 
Washington.  However,  little  or  nothing  was  to  be  expected  to 
be  done  against  the  gang  by  an  administration  that  appoints 
only  members  of  the  same  to  office,  as  will,  further  on,  more 
plainly  appear.  A  foreign  subject  in  distress  might  get  some 
attention ;  but  a  full-fledged,  native-born,  homebiiilding  citizen 
is — like  the  Savior — without  friends  or  protection  in  his  own 
country. 

Know  ye,  therefore,  that  if  ever  you  have  occasion  to 
become  acquainted  with  our  Government,  you  will  find  to  your 
sorrow  and  dismay,  that  it  is  rotten  with  practical  masonry, 
reeking  with  corruption,  and  is  against  the  people,  and  will  con- 
clude, that  unless  members  of  secret-sworn  brotherhoods  are 
excluded  from  office,  this  boasted  government  "of  the  people" 
will  sink  in  its  own  iniquity  and  perish  from  the  earth. 

"■March  12th,1884. — Governor  [Links]  here;  I  pressed  him  for  a  reason 
for  holding  me  in  spite  of  the  Judge's  recommendation,  etc. ;  he  replied, 


My  Release.  381 


that  tliat  document  "amounted  to  nothing  with  him,  but  that  five  words 
from  the  Judge — that  he  had  omitted — would  have  released  me  long  ago, 
and  v^ould  iiow."  I  asked  him  "to  name  the  necessary  five  words,"  and 
he  replied,  the  form  should  be,  "I  hereby  recommend  France's  pardon." 

I  thought  it  very  singular  that  the  Judge  had  not  sense 
enough  to  properly  commend  one  man  to  another's  favor,  and 
when  so  many  experienced  and  competent  men  had  declared  it 
to  be  a  "very  strong  recommendation,"  and  that  it  should  take 
the  governor  only  nine  (9)  months  to  hatch  out  the  only 
"proper"  form  for  a  Judge  to  express  his  opinion,  and  discover 
another  false  pretext  for  his  own  conduct. 

Nevertheless  I  sent  the  following  telegram  to  the  Judge : 

"Seatco,  Thtjtistgn  Co.,  Wash.  Teekitokt,  March  13th,  1884. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingakd,  Walla  Walla,  W.  T. : 

The  Governor  takes  exception  to  the  form  of  your  recommendation, 
and  says  the  following  five  words  would  be  effective  :  "I  hereby  recom- 
mend France's  pardon."     Will  your  Honor  kindly  comply  ? 

Geo.  W.  France." 

"■March  26th. — Doctor  here  ;  says  "  the  Governor  had  received  a  letter 
from  the  Judge  in  my  behalf,  but  knew  nothing  more  as  to  the  matter." 

"April  5tli,  1884. — The  Governor  with  the  other  j^rison  commissioners 
here  ;  the  Governor  said  he  ' '  had  received  a  letter  from  Judge  Wingard 
in  my  behalf,  about  the  same  as  the  other,"  and  that  he  "  would  see  me 
privateh/ !  before  he  left."     But  he  did  not  do  so  at  all. 

I  waited  nearly  two  months,  and  not  getting  even  a  pretext, 
I  sent  the  following  note  by  the  Doctor  to  his  father — the 
Governor. 

"Seatco,  May  9th,  1884. 
His  ExcELiiENCY,  Wm.  A.  [Links]  : 

Dear  Sir  : — My  most  vital  affairs  are  in  a  veiy  sad  and  critical  con- 
dition, and  if  you  hold  me  longer  in  prison,  ruin  and  destruction  Avill  be, 
as  it  has  been,  the  result,  and  which  will  be  on  your  head  ;  as  you  well 
know  this  to  be  all  unjust,  cruel  and  wicked  against  me.  I  would  never  be 
as  cruel  and  inhuman  to  even  a  brute.  You  should  also  consider  that  had 
you  made  known  to  me  at  the  outset  your  determination  to  hold  me,  right 
or  wrong,  and  against  all  the  iiidisputcthle  truth  that  has  been  shown  and  done 
in  my  behalf,  that  I  could  and  would  have  been  free  to  do  right,  and  happy 
with  my  family  at  home,  years  ago,  by  othei'  courts.  But  you  jjromised 
otherwise,  and  I  trusted  to  your  honor. 

As  I  have  never  Hed  to  you  or  any  one  else  concerning  my  case,  which 
during  all  these  years  of  trial  and  torture  you  must  know  to  be  the  truth, 
therefore,  will  you  jjlease  concede  to  believe  me  now  and  act,  when  I 
promise  and  swear  it  to  be  better  to  permit  me  to  save  and  care  for  the  re- 


382  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

maining  wi'eck  of  my  liome  and  family,  ■\vbicli  demamls  my  immediate 
presence,  than  to  cause  such  niin  and  destruction  as  your  Excellency  even 
■would  regret  and  recall.     I  earnestly  request  an  early  and  definite  reply. 

Very  resj^ectfully,  Geo.  W.  France." 

"Mai/  20th. — Governor  Links  here,  but  he  avoided  seeing  me." 
"June  dill,  1884. — K..  jjardoned  ;  served  one  year  on  his  two  year's 
sentence,  and  by  his  word  was  an  old  and  most  constant  criminal  and 
would  be  again,  had  been  arrested  many  times,   and  the  people  were 
"  clamorous  "  against  him — more  masonry." 

June  12i]i. — Doctor  and  Governor  Links  here — and  I  inter- 
viewed the  gentleman.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  heard  from  the 
Judge  in  reply  to  my  telegram,  and  he  said  he  had  ;  but  that 
he  had  written  to  him  "hlunt,  crabhid  and  insulting!" — so  he 
did!  "Had  not  recommended  me,"  and  that  he  [the  Judge]  "did 
not  loant  to  he  bothered  anymore  about  it." 

The  Governor  did  not  question  the  truth  of  my  telegram  at 
all;  but  asked  if  I  "  would  do  the  same  deed  again ?  "  I  replied 
that  "I  did  not  see  how  I  could  avoid  it  under  the  same 
circumstances,  and  save  my  own  life,  as  my  pistol  did  this  sure- 
ly."    Yet,  he  said  that  I  "  did  wrong  to  ever  carry  arms  at  all." 

[3Ia7'k,  that  he  had  never  a  word,  and  never  had,  against 
Jumper's  hunting  to  kill  me  with  a  carbine,  which  he  held  was 

WEONG  TO  repel  I 

How  is  that  for  equaV  rights  and  even  the  right  to  live,  when 
in  the  way  of  the  gang! 

They  want  to  drive  the  people  into  as  defenceless  a  con- 
dition as  the  following  victim ;  so  they  can  pluck  and  murder 
them  without  any  danger  to  themselves. 

"  Dr.  Bories,  of  Missoula,  was  decoyed  by  a  fellow  into  the  confession 
that  he  didn't  carry  a  shooting  iron,  and  then  the  [odd]  fellow  poked  a 
revolver  under  his  nose  and  made  him  hold  uj)  his  hands  while  he  went- 
through  him  to  the  tune  of  S60.  ] 

Then  I  asked  his  Excellency,  "what  more  he  now 
required?"  When  he  (passed  the  Judge,  so  I  would  not 
"bother"  him  anymore,  and  thus  get  his  Excellency  "insulted" 
again,  as  the  Judge  was  getting  more  "offensive"  to  him  than  I 
was!)  and  said,  that  I  "  should  have  some  of  the  Jury."  Why! 
I  said:  "you  have  already  got  that."  And  as  he  could  not 
think  of  any  other  excuse,  he  ended  the  interview.  Then  the 
Doctor  came  to  me  and  declared  that  '"  lie  was  doing  all  he  could 


My  Release.  388 


forme."     "Will  he  let  me  go?"     I  asked:    "Fes/"  lie  said, 
and  then  he  "didn't  know." 

On  the  same  day  R .  .  was  pardoned  ;  had  served  eighteen 
months  and  ten  days  on  a  sentence  of  two  and  a  half  years  lor 
robbery.  He  had  been  on  bread  and  water  several  times  for 
bad  conduct,  had  several  fights  and  was  shot  and  wounded  in 
an  attempt  to  run  away  ;  whereupon  a  prisoner  who  could  not 
get  even  his  short  time  due  him  by  Icao,  became  "hostile" 
indeed,  and  threatened,  with  quivering  lips,  to  vivisect  Ms  Excel- 
lency, Another  who  had  been  led  to  expect  a  pardon,  was 
given  a  siege  of  bread  and  water  for  telling  him  he  was  a 
"damned  liar,"  [and  so  he  was]. 

It  is  reported  that  governor  Links  is  to  be  removed  soon, 
and  the  prisoners  are  earnestly  praying  that  the  report  is  true; 
it  is  conceded,  that  he  is  even  worse  than  the  other,  and  that  a 
change  must  he  for  the  better." 

While  the  governor  did  not  want  me  to  bother  the  Judge 
anymore  about  such  a  trifling  matter  to  him  as  my  liberty  and 
life,  and  desired  me  to  "keep  very  still  and  serene,"  while  he 
tormented  and  prodded  me  to  death,  I  was  inclined  to  bother 
the  Judge y^s^  as  long  as  I  could  get  him  to  bother  the  Governor, 
or  his  successor,  if  he  did  "  offend  and  insult  them." 

Begging  and  praying  to  God  and  man  (or  devil)  as  ardently 
as  a  just  cause  could  inspire,  had  been  a  sorr}^,  agonizing 
failure,  so  I  was  not  serene,  and  as  I  was  to  suffer  on,  I  would 
also  striiggle  on,  with  at  least  protests  on  my  lips  and  curses  in 
my  heart. 

"  Seatco,  June  29th,  1884. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingabd  : 

Deak  Sir  : — The  Governor  asserts  that  you  have  not  and  vdU.  not 
recommend  my  pardon,  and  that  "you  do  not  want  to  be  bothered  about 
it." 

But  this  is  a  serious  and  vital  matter  and  not  a  mere  question  of 
"bother"  or  of  etiquette,  but  of  7'ighi  and  justice.  And  I  am  still  so 
cruelly  and  fraudulently  held,  and  even  the  "five  years  ^'  assurance  vio- 
lated. 

I  was  hunted  and  found,  when  attacked,  possessed  of  a  $25,000  plant 
and  fortune  honestly  earned,  with  my  family  I  idolized,  and  a  character 
unblemished  ;  was  peacefully  at  work  on  my  own  hard-earned  home,  and 
so  cautious  of  doing  wrong  that  I  was  acting  under  the  instructions  of  a 
peace  officer. 


384  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

No  one  has  ever  pretended  in  my  hearing,  that  I  was  hunted  and  at- 
tacked for  any  other  purpose  than  to  murder  me  for  the  fruits  of  my  toil. 
Nor  can  any  one  truthfully  deny  that  I  was  prosecuted,  sold,  shanghaied, 
and  am  yet  held  for  this  same  criminal  purjiose,  and  to  sanction  the 
crimes  done  against  me.  For  this  is  a  fact  well  nigh  accomplished,  and 
declaring  itself.  ^Yith  my  course  of  Hfe  and  associations,  how  could  I 
know  the  character  and  purpose  of  the  blackleg  monsters  wlumi  you  had 
licensed  to  practice  in  your  own  court,  and  in  whom  you  eeqxjike  their  vic- 
tims to  trust  for  justice  A^dthout  any  recourse.  And  with  your  knowledge 
and  experience,  how  could  you  fail  to  see  that  my  case  was  not  presented, 
plead  or  argued,  nor  half  of  my  proof  used  ;  but  managed  away  or  against 
me,  or  squelched  ?  Yet  I  was  entitled  to  both  a  sjjeedy  and  a  fair  trial, 
even  if  it  would  be  some  "  bother,"  better  that,  than  murder  and  ravage. 

I  did  nothing  but  defend  my  life  and  home,  and  ^ith  big  odds  against 
Die,  as  you  must  know  ;  and  unless  it  can  be  shown  that  I  deserved  to  die 
there,  it  cannot  be  justly  held  that  I  shoiild  die  a  more  horrible  death  here. 
And  I  respectfully  submit  whether  it  would  not  be  in  a  right  sense  of 
justice  and  humanity  for  you  to  "  bother"  yourself  enough  to  stay  this  foul 
and  mui'derous  oppression  ?  and  more  certainly  so  as  it  is  done  in  your 
name ;  and  I  will  ever  be  grateftd,  and  also  to  hear  from  you  direct.  Is 
there  any  way  for  me  to  have  a  trial  or  a  respectful  hearing,  or  anything 
but  hell  ?  Why  am  I  discriminated  against  ?  Was  the  life  and  motive  of 
the  assassin  with  his  carbine  so  much  better  than  mine  ?  Did  you  receive 
a  telegi-am  from  me  ?  Very  resjDectf ully,  Geo.  W.  France.  " 

A  few  days  after  this  W.  C.  [Mason]  was  appointed 
Governor, 

From  the  Press : 

"W.  C.   [Mason]  succeeds  the  GAiiUNipPEK. " 

' '  The  wires  bring  us  the  welcome  intelligence  that  the  President  has 
at  last  ai3j)ointed  a  successor  to  the  man  from  New  Jersey,  who  has  dis- 
graced the  executive  chair  of  Washington  Territory 

We  freely  and  thankfully  bid  adieu  to  the  New  Jersey  GalHnipper.  Bill, 
Ta-ta." 

"General  T. . .  retixrned  home  on  Friday  from  a  visit  to  the  East 

He  did  not  come  back  with  a  commission  in  his  pocket,  but  we  would  in- 
finitely prefer  seeing  him  ajspointed  to  a  good  office,  than  some  of  the 
scalawags  who  have  lately  and  in  the  past  been  foisted  upon  our  unfortun- 
ate Territory,  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  get  rid  of  them  at  home." 

"Governor  (Links],  the  carpet-bag  executive  that  presides  over  the 
destinies  of  Washington  Teiiitory,  is  the  most  unj^opular  officer  that  has 
ever  been  aj^pcrinted  to  govern  that  most  afflicted  part  of  the  Norih-west. 
Every  useless  and  designing  politician,  who  can  no  longer  benefit  his  party 
in  his  own  State,  is  exiled  by  the  administration  to  poor,  oppressed 
Washington. 

Of  all  the  irresponsibles  [Links]  is  the  Aveakest  and  worst 


My  Eelease.  385 


"Where  lie  is  best  known  [Links]  is  regarded  as  a  fraud,  and  is  charged 
with  incurring  debts  Avhich  he  cannot  hqnidate.  From  a  gentleman  at 
Tacoma  he  borrowed  $500,  but  failed  to  settle  at  the  apjiointed  time  and 
for  a  long  time  thereafter,  and  it  was  only  by  a  threat  of  arrest  that  the 
debtor  compromised  by  a  j^ayment  of  $300.  The  peojjle  of  Washington 
do  not  want  [Links]  for  any  position,  and  the  sooner  he  is  removed  and 
his  successor  ajjpointed  the  greater  will  be  their  rejoicement." 

"  A71  alleged  forge)'y. — A  bill  of  equity  has  been  filed  in  the  clerk's 
office  of  the  Second  Judicial  District  at  Olymjjia  by  the  prosecuting  at- 
torney, against  the  territorial  auditor  and  treasurer.  The  bill  sets  forth 
that  the  last  Legislature  passed  an  act,  appropriating  $30,000  a  year,  for 
two  years,  to  defray  exi^enses  of  the  Territorial  Insane  Asylum,  and  that 
the  said  act  was  in  some  measure  and  by  some  jjerson  unknown  altered 
and  forged,  before  reaching  the  Governor,  so  as  to  ajjpropriate  the  sum  of 

$33,500, and  that  the  Governor  signed  the  forged  bill,  being 

wholly  unaware  of  the  change  and  increase  of  the  amount  ajipropriated . . 

Of  course,  oui-  dear,  innocent,  old  Governor  would  not  be 

guilty  of  forgery— any  quicker  than  he  would  drink  a  glass  of  whiskey, 
while  preaching  on  temperance." 

"For  twenty-five  years  the  parties  have  made  political 
hospitals  of  the  territories  for  broken  down  hacks,  schemers 
and  bummers.  It  is  doubtful  which  have  given  us  more  trouble 
— these  or  hostile  Indians.  We  desire  that  further  marauding 
of  our  interests  should  cease." 

"Waila  WAI.LA,  W.  T.,  Jiily  7th,  1884. 
Mr.  Geo.  W.  Fkance. 

Sir: — I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  the  29th  of  June,  postmarked 
'  July  4lh.  [It  is  a  wonder  they  sent  it  at  all,  in  spite  of  its  being  stamped 
and  marked  to  register.]  I  did  get  your  disj^atch  and  enclosed  it  to  the 
Governor  with  a  letter.  He  replied,  in  substance,  that  you  do  not  state 
the  whole  truth — that  '  he  has  had  more  trouble  "with  yoii,  than  all  the 
men  in  the  penitentiary,'  and  much  more,  w'hich  I  shall  not  write. 

I  shall  probably  see  the  new  Governor  next  Aveek,  and,  if  I  do,  I  shall 
represent  your  case  to  him,  as  I  have  already  done  to  Governor  [Links] . 

I  would  Hke  you  to  imderstand,  that  I  have  done  more  for  you,  than  I 
have  ever  done,  or  am  likely  to  do  again  for  any  one  in  pidson. 

Yet,  you  are  continiially  complaining,  as  if  /  had  caused  your  nus- 
fortune,  or  had  been  your  attorney,  or  the  Grand  and  Petit  Juries  that 
indicted  and  convicted  you. 

Because  of  the  facts  in  your  case  I  think  five  years  imprisonment 
sufficient  and  have  repeatedly  said  so.  But  I  can't  j^ardon  you,  and  you 
know  it,  and  it  is  not  my  business  to  sohcit  pardons. 

^Respectfully  yours,  etc.,  S.  C.  Wingabd." 

25 


386  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

[I  answeretl  this  tinder  date  of  November  23rd,  1884.  ^ 

Aug.  lith,  1884. — "Governor  [Mason]  arrived  in  Olymiiia." 

The  inmates  of  the  insane  asylum  and  of  tliis  prison  were 
vitally  interested  as  to  the  kind  of  a  man  the  new  Governor 
would  be,  as  the  management  and  control  of  both  prisons 
needed  to  be  exposed  to  the  light  of  day  and  of  heaven,  by  a 
rigid  and  public  investigation,  and  justice  meted  out  to  the 
midnight  gentlemen  in  control. 

In  discussing  the  new  Governor's  character,  some  held 
that  as  he  had  an  ample  fortune  (which  he  had  never  earned) 
he  would  be  really  the  Governor,  above  bribery  and  just  to  all. 
And  that  as  he  had  lived  in  the  country  a  few  months— off  and 
on — and  owned  some  land,  he  might  have  some  little  practical 
knowledge  of  common  affairs  and  some  sense  and  feeling  of 
justice  as  to  the  common  people ;  and  delared  that  "  anyway  we 
had  all  to  gain  and  nothing  desirable  to  lose  by  the  change." 

While  others  maintained  that  he  was  a  Free-Mason-  and  a 
haughty  one — and  cared  nothing  for  outsiders,  or  the  common 
people,  except  as  beasts  of  burden  to  ride  on  and  give  him 
power  and  glory,  and  that  he  would  be  as  much  in  the  gang 
and  a  tool  of  it,  as  though  he  was  as  poor  as  his  predecessor. 

The  brethren  of  the  masonic  press  got  right  down  and 
worshipped  him  as  a  true  and  living  God ;  as  they  had  generally 
done  to  his  predecessor  while  he  was  the  rising  sun  of  the  mid- 
night riogs. 

'^  August  24th,  1884. — I  wrote  to  Governor  [Mason]  giving' 
him  a  synopsis  of  the  papers  he  should  find  on  file  in  my  be- 
half, and  requested  that  he  would  carefully  examine  them,  and 
it'  anything  was  lacking  to  justify  my  release,  to  inform  me 
accordingly. 

"  September  28th.  —  Received    the    following    letter    from 

Judge  Wingard : 

"Olympia,  W.  T.,  September  26th,  1884. 

Geo.  W.  France. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  been  here  attending  a  session  of  the  Supreme 
Court. 

I  have  laid  your  case  before  Governor  [Mason],  and  while  I  do  not 
know  what  action  he  may  be  disposed  to  take  in  the  matter,  I  think  he 
may  look  favorably  upon  the  question  of  your  release. 

KespectfuUy  yom-s,  S.  C.  "Wingabd." 


My  Kelease.  387 


October  3rd,  1884. — Governor  [Mason]  called  the  first  time^ 
said  tliat  "the  papers  of  his  office  were  only  turned  over  to  him, 
three  days  before  and  he  had  not  looked  at  them  yet;  but 
would  do  so  on  his  return  and  investigate  and  act  on  my  case 
"the  first  one;"  th&t  he  "had  a  very  strong  letter  from  Judge 
Wingard  in  my  behalf — that  he  said,  "he  should  have  giveii  me  a 
neto  trial,"  — here  another  prisoner  spoke  up  saying,  that  "he 
had  three  petitions,"  etc.,  to  which  the  new  Governor  replied, 
that  "  what  the  Judge  has  done  for  Mr.  France  is  better  than  a 
thousand  petitions,  and  I  will  attend  to  his  case  the  Jirst  one." 

But  he  said  "we  have  a  good  judiciary!  "  Then  I  asked 
him  to  promise  that  "  if  anyone  opposed  my  release  he  would 
inform  me  who  they  were  and  give  me  a  fair  chance  to  meet 
any  objection,"  to  which  he  agreed,  and  "  would  tell  me  as  a 
secret  that  no  one  was  opposing  it  but  Governor  [Links]:  that 
"he  ivas  afraid  of  me  should  I  he  released,  and  tlierefore  opposed  it." 
"  Does  he  say  that  I  ever  threatened  him  in  any  way  ? "  I 
asked.  No,  no !  he  says  you  have  not,  but  thinks  that  you 
naturally  ivould  be  revengeful  and  dangerous  if  released." 
"  Would  you  be  influenced  against  me  by  such  characters  and 
interested  enemies  as  you  hioio  Links  and  these  contractors  to 
be  ?  "  "  No,  no  !  certainly  not ! "  said  he,  "and  I  will  write  to  the 
Judge  for  further  information  and  will  act  on  your  case  the 
^rst  one."  "I  believe  your  conduct  has  always  been  good 
here?"  "  Yes  sir,"  said  I,  "but  these  devils  of  contractors 
and  Links  will  stab  men  in  the  back  any  way  they  can  to  keep 
them  here,  so  just  have  them  face  me  in  the  matter  and  we  will 
settle  that  right  noiv;  if  they  deny  it,  I  will  establish  it  beyond 
dispute  in  spite  of  them  !  "  "  Never  mind  that,"  said  he,  "  for 
I  am  satisfied  that  your  conduct  has  always  been  good."  He 
shook  hands  in  a  manner  to  emphasize  his  earnestness  and 
sincere  feelings  and  departed,  saying,  he  would  "  be  back  again 
very  soon." 

So  now  they  had  held  on  to  me,  and  tormented  and  ravaged 
me,  till  they  virtually  confessed  that  they  deserved  to  die  at 
my  hands  ;  and  it  was  their  conduct  and  guilt  that  told  them,  so. 
They  knew  that  I  never  harmed  the  innocent  and  woidd  kill 
nothing  but  a  midnight  devil  of  a  robber-assassin,  and  such 
only  in   self-defence.      But  with  the  misery  and  ravage  and 


388  Extracts  from  Diary  Kei>t  in  Prison. 

destruction  they  had  wrought,  staring  them  in  the  face,  and 
haunting  them  in  their  dreams,  no  wonder  they  coivered  to  meet 
their  victims  on  a  common  level. 

"  For  whence,  dull  reas'ner,  can  a  fear  arise, 
Lest  peace  and  plenty  gild  the  path  of  vice  ; 
Think'st  thou  that  he  whom  conscience  racks  within 
Can  escape  the  vengeance  that  awaits  on  sin? 
Whilst  shuddering  memory,  by  guilt  oppress'd, 
Plants  her  blood-thirsty  daggers  in  his  breast ; 
Shakes  her  dread  arrows  with  vindictive  ire 
And  damns  the  trembler  to  eternal  fire. 
Fire,  where  infernal  furies  fan  the  flame, 
Which  hopes  ne'er  soften,  and  which  years  ne'er  tame; 
Not  all  the  tortures  of  afilictive  steel. 
Which  law  can  sanction,  or  which  sense  can  feel. 
Thrill  thro'  the  tortured  frame  with  half  the  smart, 
As  crimes  unpardoned  through  the  guilty  heart. 
His  sickening  conscience  loaths  the  odious  lights 
Each  fear  returning  with  returning  night ; 
Whilst  terror  wears  his  tedious  hours  away, 
Himself  the  accuser,  and  himself  the  prey. 
This  is  the  guilty  ivretch,  whose  conscious  soul 
Shrinks  back  with  terror,  e'er  the  thunders  roll, 
And  turns  pale  and  trembles  at  the  electric  light. 

Say,  if  such  woes  on  luckless  guilt  attend, 

What  grief  shall  rack  that  wretch  the  fates  befriend ; 

Eternal  terrors — while  the  loathsome  food 

Cloys  his  pall'd  taste,  and  taints  his  meagre  blood; 

No  more  rich  wines  allay  his  tort'ring  pain. 

Cool  his  parched  lip  or  calm  his  whirling  brain. 

Not  all  the  sweets  prolific  gaul  can  yield. 

Nor  all  the  products  of  the  Iberian  field 

Can  bribe  his  soul  to  quaff  the  luscious  draught, 

Or  drown  in  wine  the  racking  pang  of  thought. 

Eternal  clouds  hang  low'ring  on  his  brow. 

And  mighty  horrors  aim  the  vengeful  blow  ; 

Should  balmy  sleep  allay  his  tortured  breast, 

J?or  one  short  moment  in  oblivious  rest. 


My  Kelease.  389 


Swift  to  his  thought,  the  fane  where  late  he  trod, 

The  insulted  altar  of  his  injured  God, 

And  thy  dread  form  gigantic  meet  his  view. 

Guilt  swells  the  form  his  frenzied  memory  drew ; 

Till  tortur'd  nature  triumphs  over  pride, 

His  fears  confessing  ivJiat  his  tongue  denied. 

For  q.uick  and  restless  is  each  sinful  breast, 

By  hopes  transported,  or  by  fears  opprest ; 

Tho'  bold  in  acting,  yet  they  find  in  time. 

That  guilt  strikes  home,  and  punishes  the  crime. 

Again  to  sin  and  sorrow  they  recur, 

The  path  of  vice  still  widening  as  they  err  ; 

For  who  that  once  has  lost  his  heavenly  guide. 

Ere  stopped  the  torrent  of  overwhelming  pride  ! 

Or  sense  of  shame  oftce  banished  by  disgrace, 

Relum'd  the  blush  of  virtue  in  his  face  ? 

Guilt  leads  to  guilt,  possession  wakes  desire. 

And  treach'rous  fortune  fans  the  rising  fire  ; 

Each  crime  unpunished  prompts  a  thousand  more, 

Till  habit  leads,  where  passion  swayed  before. 

The  wretch  who  late  his  sacred  trust  betrayed, 

With  blood  e'er  long  shall  stain  his  murderous  blade, 

Overturn  his  country,  or'with  trait'rous  art 

Aim  the  dark  dagger  at  the  patriot's  heart ; 

Till  injured  justice  lift  her  iron  rod 

And  vengeance  thund'ring  from  the  throne  of  God, 

Give  to  Hell's  op'ning  jaws  their  destined  prey. 

And  sweep  the  monster  from  the  face  of  day; 

Unpitied  shall  he  fall,  without  a  friend. 

His  life  detested,  and  accurs'd  his  end. 

And  thou,  proud  mortal,  whose  imperious  soul 

Would  teach  eternal  thunders  where  to  roll, 

Shalt  see  that  God,  who  marks  each  latent  ill. 

Can  spare  alike,  or  punish  wdiere  he  will ; 

And  trembling  own,  whilst  humbled  in  the  dust, 

That  man  is  impious,  but  that  God  is  just. ' 

W—  S— " 

And  their  knowing  that  to  increase  the  oppession,  likewise 


390  Extracts  fkom  Deary  Kept  in  Prison. 

increased  their  guilt,  and  would  consequently,  in  the  end,  but 
increase  their  danger ;  they  therefore  evidently  intended  for  me 
to  d\e in lyr'imn,  so  that  I  could  neither  expose  or  kill  them  for 
their  torturing  crimes.  And  I  considered  it  to  be  necessary  to 
guard  against  being  poisoned  by  such  guilty-minded  cowards. 
No  Jinked  member  of  secret  intrigue  should  ever  he  suffered  to  deed 
out  doses  to  victims  of  their  gang. 

Mark  and  reflect,  how  this  linked  prince  would  still  be 
Governor— awcZ  he  ivcis — how  the  secret  clans  affiliate  in  prostituting 
the  Government  against  the  people. 

"Seatco,  Thurston  Co.,  W.  T.,  November  23rd,  1884. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingard: 

Dear  Sir  : — I  gratefully  received  your  letter  from  Olympia, 
as  well  as  the  one  previously ;  as  to  which  I  will  say,  that  I  told 
you  the  truth  as  I  have  always  done. 

I  did  neither  misconstrue  Governor  Link's  words  nor  his 
meaning— that  is  supposing  him  to  mean  what  he  said  — that 
"the  five  words"  as  given  you  "from  you  would  release  me." 

As  to  your  letter  to  him  in  reply,  he  gave  me  as  his  reason 
for  not  honoring  it — not  such  as  he  did  you — but  that  it  was 
"short,  crahbid  and  insidting"  and  "  no  recommendation."  Nor 
did  he  question  its  truth  as  to  my  part — not  cd  cdl 

It,  however,  gave  me  some  consolation  to  know  that  it  was 
not  only  his  defenseless,  suffering  victims — honestly  struggling 
as  does  the  lamb  with  the  wolf,  the  fly  with  the  spider  and  the 
bird  with  the  snake! — who  "insults,"  "offends"  or  troubles 
his  Excellency  as  he  gloats  over  the  mangled  remains  of  his 
victims. 

And  he  gave  as  his  reason  for  holding  me,  to  my  people  in 
the  States,  that  "  my  case  was  an  aggravated  one  and  you  was 
.satisfied  with  my  sentence." 

I  give  you  this  as  a  mere  sample,  or  glimpse  of  the  stabbing 
in  the  back  and  in  the  dark  I  have  to  endure,  and  the  character 
of  the  influence  practised  against  me.  The  same  that  tried  to 
murder  me  at  home,  and  succeeded  in  shanghaiing  and  selling 
me  to  accomplish  their  hellish  ravages.  Of  course,  so  long  as 
such  blacklegs  have  influence  at  court,  and  honorable  men  and 
modes  are  spumed,  there  is  no  assurance  for  me.     Audit  was  a 


My  Release.  391 


sorry  day  for  me  when  I  trusted  in  tlie  merits  and  justice  of  my 
cause  — though  it  was  never  excelled — for  justice  and  vindica- 
tion at  such  courts. 

Governor  [Mason]  was  here  about  seven  weeks  ago ;  said 
he  had  a  letter  from  you  in  my  behalf,  and  would  write  to  you 
for  further  information.  1  had  hoped  that  you  Avould  conckide 
the  matter  while  at  Olympia,  but  I  suppose  I  must  suffer  and 
not  complain. 

Yery  Respectfully, 

Geo.  W.  France." 

"Walla  Walla,  W.  T.,  December  Tth,  1884. 
George  W.  France  : 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  registered  letter  of  23rd  ult.  received  on  my  return 
liome.  In  reply  I  Avill  say,  tliat  after  I  wrote  to  you  from  Olymj^ia  last 
SeiJtember,  I  received  a  letter  from  Governor  [Mason]  saying,  in  substance, 
that  e.f-Governor  [Links]  opposed  your  pardon  on  the  ground  that  you 
had  offended  him  in  some  way,  and  had  not  behaved  well,  etc.  Governor 
Mason  said  he  would  look  into  the  matter  further,  and  hoped  he  could 
comply  with  my  opinion  that  you  had  been  in  prison  long  enough.  I  have 
heard  nothing  from  him  since.      If  I  could  let  you  out  I  would. 

Yours,  etc.,  S.  C.  Wingard." 

"  December  10th,  1884. — It  is  reported  that  during  a  recent 
visit  to  Olympia  Judge  Wingard  had  a  quarrel  with  Links 
about  his  conduct  towards  me,  and  that  during  which  the  Judge 
declared  he  "  loould  never  send  another  man  to  this  prison  that  he 
could  possibly  avoid,"  etc.  Some  are  discussing  the  matter  and 
will  watch  the  court  proceedings  closely,  and  see  whether  he 
does  or  not. 

"December  17th,  1884. — Governor  [Mason]  started  to  the 
States,  and  without  coming  here.  This  is  how  '  he  looked  into 
my  case  further.'  " 

"January  12th,  1885. — Dr.  Links,  jr.,  here  ;  he  denies  j[)om- 
tively  that  his  father  has  opposed  or  is  opposed  to  my  release, 
declaring  that  "  he  knoivs  "  and  will  sivear  to  it,  and  that  "  Gov- 
ernor Mason  only  says  so  for  an  excuse."  Also,  that  "my  con- 
duct has  not  been  bad  and  that  I  have  not  offended  his  father." 

If  the  common  people  knew  the  real  characters  of  those 
they  are  led  to  support  for  ojKce,  and  knew  the  main  spring  of 
their  official  actions,  when  they  get  there,  instead  of  thus  being 
enslaved  by  the  prostitution  of   their  own  government,  they 


392  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

would  raze  to  the  ground  every  den  of  the  lying  robber  clans  in  the 
country. 

*' January  IGth,  1885. — G.  .  and  W.  .  came  here  from  Day- 
ton ;  and  say  that  "  the  people  think  it  is  an  outrage  that  I  was 
sent  or  held  here  at  all,  when  it  was  so  plain  that  I  only  de- 
fended my  life,"  and  that  Judge  Wingard  had  said  on  the 
streets  that  "  had  he  known  I  would  be  held  more  than  a  year 
or  two  he  would  not  have  sent  me  at  all.  " 

"  I  see  in  the  papers  that  Governor  Mason  will  visit  Wash- 
ington and  also  New  Orleans  before  his  return — he  thus  picnics 
while  his  victims  languish." 

"  March  14th. — See  that  the  Secretary,  as  acting  Governor, 
has  pardoned  a  man  out  of  jail.  And  also  that  the  Governor 
will  soon  return." 

"  January  26th,  1885. — Been  very  sick  for  the  last  two  weeks 
and  over." 

"  But  he  luho  fails  and  yet  still  fights  on, 
Lo,  he  is  the  tivin  born  brother  of  mine.  " 

So  I  wrote  the  following  letter  : 

' '  Seatco,  Wash.  Tekkitoey,  March  28th,  1885. 
His  Excellency,  Governor  [Mason] : 

Sib  : — I  am  impelled  by  my  distress  to  remind  your  Excellency  of  the 
cruel  wrong  you  are  doing  me  and  mine  by  prolonging  my  imprisonment. 
Although  you  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  fortune,  luxui-y  and 
power,  I  imi^lore  you  not  to  thus  desjiise  all  that  is  honorable,  just 
and  humane,  because  it  be  unfoi-tunate  and  hunted  down.  You 
have  showings,  references  and  proofs  conclusive  to  unj)rejudiced  men, 
of  my  innocence  of  any  crime,  and  of  my  character  where  I  worked 
so  hard  and  prospered  so  well,  till  attacked  by  the  blood-thirsty 
assassin  and  robbers — to  which  you  have  failed  to  even  question,  as  in- 
vited to  do.  Therefore,  you  are  presumed  to  l:)wn-  the  cruel  injustice  you 
are  inflicting,  and  that  I  am  not  a  Har.  I  hope  you  are  not  so  heartless  as 
to  enjoy  the  ijay  and  the  misery  there  is  in  it  ;  but  u-hy  do  you  allow  it  to 
continue  till  all  my  well-earned  fortune  and  good  health  and  most  sacred, 
devoted  ties — all  that  is  worth  living  for — is  ravaged  and  consumed  in  the 
flames  of  violence,  avarice,  and  a  damnable  revenge,  and  all  for  u-luit? 
Becaiise  I  would  face  and  defend  my  Hfe  against  the  flaming  fu-e  and  lead 
of  the  robber-assassin  on  my  own  devoted  altar. 

'  Woe  be  unto  him  who  calls  good  evil  and  evil  good,'  and  who,  while 
extnUnrf  axgasf<inatio7i  and  rapine,  spurns  and  stamps  homely,  friendless  \\r- 
tue  in  the  dust. 

Judge  Wingard  says,  that  '  had  he  known  I  would  not  be  presently  re- 


My  Eelease.  393 


stored,  he  would  not  liave  sent  me  here,  and  that  if  he  could  let  me  go  he 
would  do  so.'  Are  you  not,  therefore,  taking  undue  advantage  of  the 
court's  mere  technical  sentence,  which  itse//  rejects,  and  its  ignorance  as  to  the 
executive  character,  to  comjilete  my  ruin  '? 

If  your  Excellency  will  not  let  me  go,  'will  you  j)lease  grant  me  the 
favor  to  so  answer  and  inform  me,  to  answer  the  questions  and  points  in 
my  ai'gument  and  plea  (epitome)  heretofore  submitted,  and  to  deliver  to 
me  all  the  papers  and  letters  received  by  the  Governor  in  my  behalf? 

Respectfully  yours,  Geo.  W.  France." 

^^  June  '214,  1885. — Received  letter  from  I,  J.  T.;  lie,  in  con- 
junction with  H.  A.  and  others,  propose  to  get  up  monster 
petitions  for  my  release  ;  says  '  about  everybody  in  my  three 
counties  would  gladly  sign  them;'  he  will  write  to  the  Governor 
to  find  out  what  more  is  necessary  to  be  shown  or  done  to 
secure  my  release." 

"  July  4th. — Received  the  following  letter  from  I.  J.  T.: 

"PoMEROY,  W.  T.,  July  1st,  1885. 
Mr.  George  W.  France  : 

Dear  Sir  : — I  saw  Mr.  H.  A .  .  and  had  a  talk  with  him  on  petitions, 
etc. ;  he  will  attend  to  the  business  in  that  county ;  he  is  a  strong  friend  of 
yours  and  a  fine  man  too,  and  will  work  with  us  to  get  you  out  to  again 

breathe  the  free  air  of  Heaven You  Avill  j^lease  get  a 

certificate  of  the  prison  warden  showing  your  good  behavior  since  you 
wei'e  there.  It  wdll  have  weight  with  the  Governor.  I  wrote  to  the  Gov- 
ernor but  have  not  heard  from  him  yet.  We  will  give  the  matter  n,  thorough 
eflfoi-t,  and  use  all  the  means  in  our  power  for  your  release  for  the  reason 
that  you  ouglit  to  be  out.  I  always  maintained  that  you  were  unjustly  in- 
carcerated, and  that  it  was  done  by  chicanery,  and  hope  we  will  soou  see 
you  here  again.  I  heard  a  disinterested  party  say  that  he  Avas  positli'e  that 
McK . .  swore  to  a  lie  which  went  far  towards  putting  you  in  pi-ison. 

We  wiU  work  this  matter  with  a  determination  not  to  fail,  though 
perhaps  if  /  were  in  prison  no  one  would  try  to  get  mi}  out,  bvit  they 
might.    But  I  want  justice  done,  and  justice  demands  your  release  loitdly. 

The  M . .  gang  will,  of  course,  work  against  the  matter,  but 

Judge  Wingard  knows  and  has  called  them  perjured  publicly,  and  they 
"svill  get  m  quarter  at  his  hands I.  J.  T .  . . " 

I  pointed  out  to  the  warden  the  paragraph  of  the  letter  re- 
questing a  certificate  of  my  good  behavior  and  requested  him 
to  fill  the  bill,  to  which  he  replied,  that  "  it  would  do  no  good 
for  liim  to  do  so,  as  that  was  S .  .  's  place  (S .  .  was  superintend- 
ent then)  and  that  he  should  do  so."  To  which  I  replied,  "  you 
hioio  that  S.  .  will  not  help  ant/one  out  by  certifying  to  his  good 


394  Extracts  from  Diary  Keit  in  Prison. 

conduct."  "But,"  the  warden  replied,  "it  is  his  place  to  do 
it,  aud  he  oucjid  to  do  so  for  you,  I  can't."  Therefore  I  deter- 
mined to  establish  the  fact  in  spite  of  them,  aud  a  fellow- 
prisoner  wrote  out  the  following  certificate,  and  was  more  or 
less  joined  by  all  the  rest,  as  follows : 

"Seatco  Pkison,  Wash.  Teeritory,  July  6th,  A.D.,  1885. 
We,  the  undei'signed,  do  hereby  ceitify,  that  to  our  personal  knowledge 
during  our  acquaintance  as  fellow-i^risoners,  and  on  information  and  be- 
lief as  to  the  remainder  of  the  time  of  George  W.  France's  incarceration, 
that  said  France's  conduct  as  a  prisoner  has  been  unexceptionally  good, 
or  equal  to  the  best  of  the  jjrisoners,  and  will  bear  a  most  rigid  examina- 
tion, -which  he  solicits.  F.  E.  Strong, 

ex-Sheriff  and  Assessor  of  Wah  Kiacum  Co.,  W.  T. 


"  TJie  Signatures  attached  to  the  foregoing  certificate  constitute  all  of  the 
prisoners,  except  one  Chinaman,  two  Indians,  one  woman,  and  (8)  others,  who 
acquiesce  hi  its  truthfulness,  and  if  summoned,  xcill  testify  to  tJie  same. " 

Oath. 
"TFe  do  solemnly  swear  that  the  foregoing  certificate  and  statement  is  true, 
as  we  verily  believe.     So  help  tts  God. 

Fred.  E.  Strong, 

A.    J.    YiNCENT, 

Geo.  W.  France." 

Territory  of  Washington,  County  of  Thurston. 
Personally  appeared  before  me  this  lith  day  of  Juh",    A.  D.  1885, 
Fred.  E.  Strong,  A.  J.  Yincent  aud  Geo.  W  France,  who  are  personally 
known  to  me,  and  subscribed  and  swore  to  the  foregoing  oath. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  14th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1885. 

(Seal.)     '  G.  S.  Prince,  Notary  PubHc." 

The  eight  (8)  prisoners  who  did  not  sign  felt  it  to  be  im- 
prudent— as  their  cases  stood — for  them  to  thus  enrage  the 
gang  against  them;  although  they  would  be  glad  to  he  put  under 
oath  and  thus  compelled  (?)  to  testify  in  the  matter.  Of  course,  my 
position  as  loarden  of  the  big  hall,  etc.,  would  of  itself  been  proof 
enough /or  any  honest  Governor. 

The  only  way  I  could  get  a  notary  to  attend  to  this  matter  was 
by  a  strategy,  or  we,  nearly  all,  would  haye  sworn  to  it.  It  hap- 


My  Kelease.  395 


pened  that  I  bad  at  this  time  a  power  of  attorney  to  be  ac- 
knowledged ;  so  under  the  shadow  of  doing  this,  and  using  my 
friends  Strong  and  Vincent  as  my  witnesses  to  the  same,  we 
pushed  the  other  matter  through  right  in  the  shadow  of  the 
elevated  ears,  and  in  the  snapping  teeth  of  the  superintendent, 
who,  with  others,  was  playing  cards  at  a  table  close  by.  And 
when  I  blandly  invited  the  gentleman  to  join  my  friends  in  the 
certificate,  he  brayed  out  in  reply,  "  No,  I  wont  !  "  To  which  I 
replied,  "that  is  what  I  had  understood,  and  had,  therefore, 
appealed  to  my  friends  to  establish  the  fact  beyond  dispute  or 
question.''^ 

Now  this  notary  manifested  an  earnest  and  kindly  feeling, 
such  as  is  very  rarely  enjoyed  in  such  a  circumstance,  saying 
that  I  "  had  established  the  fact  in  spite  of  them,"  and  was  so 
pleased  with  my  sand,  that  he  refused  to  accept  any  pay  for  his 
services,  another  having  charged  me  $6  for  but  a  single  ac- 
knowledgement. 

The  next  thing  was  to  prevent  the  matter  from  being 
squelched,  and  the  warden  was  so  anxious  to  get  it  in  his  fingers 
that  he  said  I  might  send  the  papers  without  their  counting  as 
letters,  which  were  only  allowed  to  be  sent  once  a  month. 

So  I  wrote  a  brief  of  the  certificate  on  the  poiver  of  attorney 
and  registered  it,  also  stating  on  it  that  I  would  forward  the 
other  to  I.  J.  T .  .  with  whom  he  was  in  correspondence,  and  so 
he  got  it. 

"PoMEKOY,  W.  T.,  July  26th,  1885. 
Mr.  Geo.  W.  Feance; 

Deak  Sik: — I  have  not  heard  from  you  for  a  long  time  [cis  though  it 
was  my  fauli\ I  am  in  receipt  of  a  letter  from  the  Gov- 
ernor. He  wants  to  have  a  talk  with  you  before  we  get  u^d  more  jietitious 
and  Avill  then  let  us  know  whether  this  is  necessary. 

I  think  the  chances  are  favorable  for  your  release,  as  it  is  left  entirely 
to  yourself,  as  your  talk  Avith  the  Governor  will  decide  whether  you  get 
out  or  not.  \What  deceitful,  lying  rot  on  one  siile,  and  stupid  ignorance  on  the 
other. ^ 

I  have  written  to  him  very  fully  and  referred  him  to  several  responsible 
men  knowing  you  and  your  case,  and  I  will  wi-ite  to  him  again. 

Hoping  to  hear  fi'om  you  at  once,  I  am,  Yours  truly,  I.  J.  T." 

It  was  diflicult  to  convince  any  one  of  the  people  that  a 
victim  was   denied  the  right  to  attend  to  such  vital  business 


396  EXTKACTS  FROM  DiARY   KePI  IN   PrISON. 

whenever  necessary,  and  one  would  frequently  have  several 
diiferent  business  matters  with  as  many  different  persons  living 
and  being  in  different  sections  of  the  country,  each  requiring 
him  to  write  " at  once"  when  he  could  only  write  one  letter  a 
month,  and  there  was  110  security  or  assurance  that  it  ivould  go, 
except  to  send  them  out  "  underground"  and  then  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  make  one's  friends  understand  that  they  must  acknowl- 
edge its  receipt  by  a  simple  mark  or  expression,  and  refer  to  it 
in  no  other  way.  For  when  detected  it  was  used  as  a  club  or 
knife  against  the  victim. 

This,  that  follows,  is  his  Excellency's  rot : 

"ExKCUTivE  Office.— OiiYiiPiA,  W.  T.,  July  22d,  1885. 
I.  J.  ToiiLiNSON,  Esq.,  PomeroY,  W.  T. 

Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  June  IStli,  1885, 1  desire  to  say 
that  I  liave  tried  to  see  Judge  "Wingard,  ^-lien  I  ^'isited  the  city  of  "Walla 
Walla,  so  as  to  converse  with  him  concerning  the  case  of  Geo.  TV.  France, 
but  he  was  then  absent  from  that  city. 

However,  I  have  conversed  with  him  here  within  the  last  few  days, 
and,  upon  his  advice,  have  concluded  to  have  a  talk  with  Mr.  France  as 
soon  as  I  can  visit  the  penitentiary. 

I  do  not  think  it  would  be  my  duty  to  pardon  him,  if  he  is  likely  to 
become  a  troublesome  and  dangerous  man. 

[About  all  of  the  "troublesome  and  dangerous"  men  on  the  roads  of 
the  border  were  peaceable  citizens,  till  thus  persistently  looted,  goaded  and 
driven  to  avenge  themselves,  by  ring  blacklegs  in  office  who  are  a  thousand 
times  more  "  t7'oublesome  and  dayigerotcs  "  to  good  society; — they  not  only 
rob  and  murder  men,  but  they  rob  and  murder  their  government  also.  Had 
he  (the  Governor)  been  honest,  he  would  have  joined,  or  rather  taken  the 
lead  in  heing  ^^  troublesome  and  dangerous^^  to  the  traitorous  gang.'\  After 
seeing  him  I  may  wi-ite  to  you  again,  in  case  a  petition  be  contemj)lated  by 
JO^x.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  go  to  the  trouble  of  circulating  a  j)etition,  un- 
til I  can  see  Mr.  France  and  ascertain  whether  he  is  contrite  or  revengef  uL 

RespectfuUy,  W.  C.  [Mason.]" 

"Contrite  or  revengeful,"  he  says;  "  Contrite  "  for  what? 
For  defending  my  oiun  life  against  one  of  the  gang  ?  Which 
showed  that  he  belonged  to  the  gang,  and  would  justify  and 
sanction  their  crimes  at  the  expense  of  innocent  blood,  and 
ravage  and  dance  on  the  graves  of  his  victims.     Look  here  ! 

From  the  Press. — "  The  Signal  declared  that  Governor  [IMason]  at  the 
G.  A.  R.  Encampment  proved  himself  a  nimble  figure  in  the  dance.  He 
out-lasted  the  most  enduring  of  our  Yakima  damsels  and  came  up  for  the 
last  Waltz,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  fresh  as  a  daisy,  although  he 


My  Release.  397 


had  not  missed  a  single  ojiportunity  to  agitate  his  foot  during  the  night. . . 

He  Avas  a  great  seeker  after  partners,  and  for  courtly  grace  and 

continuity  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  his  equal." 

[Do  such,  as  he,  have  any  conscience  ?  To  dance  while  his  Aactims 
languish!] 

"  But  noio  my  sword's  my  own,  smile  on  my  lords  : 

"  I  scorn  to  count  what  feelings,  withered  hopes,  strong 
provocations,  bitter  burning  wrongs,  I  have  within  my  heart's 
hot  cells  shut  up.     To  leave  you  in  your  lazy  dignities. 

"  But  here  I  stand  and  scoff  you  ;  here  I  fling  hatred  and 
full  defiance  in  your  face."     Curse  you  ! 

"  July  21st,  1885. — Doctor  and  ex-Governor  [Links]  here; 
the  Doctor  declares  that  he  and  his  father  "  have  praised  me  to 
Governor  [Mason]  and  favored  my  release,  and  that  the  Gov- 
ernor is  favorable  to  it." 

"  Seatco,  Thurston  Co.,  Wash.  Ter.,  August  16th,  1885. 
Mr.  I.  J.  T   .  : 

Dear  Sir  : — Yours  of  July  26tli  and  30th  received,  and  I 
embraced  the  opportunity  to  reply.  Governor  [Mason]  has  not 
come  around.  But  he  could  know  my  sentiments  by  examining 
them  as  set  forth  in  my  argument  and  plea  (epitome)  -  on  file 
at  the  executive  office  and  addressed  to  the  "  Governor  and  the 
people  at  large." 

And  if  such  sentiments,  or  the  exercise  thereof,  is  in  viola- 
tion of  any  standard  of  law,  or  of  good  morals,  or  good  citizen- 
ship, no  one  has  claimed  or  pointed  it  out  to  me,  in  any  partic- 
ular. Although  I  have  begged  them  to  do  so,  or  to  controvert 
its  truth  as  to  any  point  if  they  could,  (and  let  me  prove  it  again) 
and  to  "  prescribe  a  bitter  course  and  rule  of  life  and  conduct 
than  I  have  exercised,  when  I  would  embrace  it  accordingly." 
But  no  point  has  been  questioned  or  denied,  or  any  other  standard 
of  conduct  offered.  , 

So  you  see,  don't  you  !  that  the  matter  does  not  "  rest  with 
me  "  at  all  ?  I  have  my  ^axi  as  well  done  as  opportunity  ac- 
corded me,  and  m}'  distress  would  permit.  Hence  it  rests  on 
you,  if  you  please,  to  proceed  to  the  consummation  of  your 
work  there,  and  the  pushing  of  the  same  to  the  end. 

And  you  and  other  friends  can,  with  safety  and  propriety, 
guarantee  m}^  future  conduct  to  be  in  accordance  with    the 


398  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

golden  rule.  And  thus  shatter  the  false  reports  and  idle  fan- 
cies hatched  in  the  dark,  to  add  to  my  misery,  and  which,  if 
persisted  in  without  rebuke,  Avould  drive  even  an  angel  to  des- 
peration or  the  grave.  When  they  cannot  point  to  any  word, 
act,  or  circumstance  of  my  own,  wherein  they  can  justify  any  of 

their  accusations,  and  do  not  pretend  to  to  me 

Yours  very  truly,        Geo.  W.  France." 

As  to  a  meal's  rights,  even  hi  a  Kingdom.  "British  Cour^t.'"  British 
Law  and  Subjects.  English  Gold  Commissioner,  at  Kootenia,  (Fisherville 
Camp). 

"  If  you  had  shot  him  down  [an  unaemed  trespasser)  you  could  not  have 
been  hurl  for  it;  for  any  English  subject  has  a  right  to  protect  his  own  castle, 
and  a  miner's  claim  is  his  castle." 

He  fined  the  trespasser  (who  had  had  the  other  arrested  for  assault) 
£25  for  trespassing  upon  and  molesting  a  subject  on  his  own  premises." 
— Col.  Hunter's  Reminiscences  of  an  Old  Timer. 

And  yet  this  latter  day  Mason  and  Governor  holds,  that  a 
full-fledged  American  citizen  should  be  "  contrite  "  for  even  de- 
fending his  life  on  his  hard-earned  home  against  one  of  the 
secret  gang  shooting  at  him  with  a  carbine  !  That  he  was  a 
tyrant,  etc.,  will  hereafter  appear  by  the  testimony  of  others 
also. 

"August  18th,  1885. — Court  in  my  county  (Judge  Wingard) 
had  seventeen  (17)  criminal  cases ;  there  being  many  men  here 
for  lo7ig  terms  with  weaker  cases  against  them  than  the  least  of 
these  seventeen  ;  5"et,  "  the  Judge  strikes  the  criminal  docket 
with  a  cyclone  the  first  day,"  as  a  local  paper  expresses  it,  and 
they  are  all  cleared."  But  J  will  do  for  an  example  (?)  for  them 
all. 

"September  11th,  1885. —  Governor  [Mason]  is  at  Walla 
Walla  picnicing  at  the  fair. 

"  September  19th. — Governor  [Mason]  and  the  other  prison 
directors  are  here  ;  the  Governor  introduced  one  of  them  (an 
odd-felloiv)  to  me,  asking  me  to  show  to  him  the  papers  1  had 
from  Judge  Wingard,  which  I  did ;  he  (the  odd-fellow) 
"  thought  they  were  very  strong,"  and  said  he  would  also  exam- 
ine my  papers  at  the  Governor's  office,  but  he  wanted  no  fur- 
ther information  from  me.  The  Governor  then  gave  me  to 
understand  that  he  would  let  me  go  "  when  the  Legislature 


My  Kelease.  399 


met  in  December,"  and  that  he  would  have  done  so  before  but 
for  objection  being  made  that  I  "might  be  dangerous  or  trouble- 
some." But  he  refused  to  say  to  tvhom,  or  give  me  the  ground 
of  such  objection,  or  by  whom  made,  or  what  would  refute  or 
placate  it.  He  did  not  want  any  information  either,  or  to 
"Jiave  a  talk"  as  he  had  written  ivas  so  important.  On  leaving, 
he  shook  hands  with  me  cordially  (yet  so  falsely)  saying  and 
repeating  it,  that  "  he  would  be  here  again  before  the  Legislature 
met"  and  intimated  that  he  would  let  me  go  then. 

"Seatco,  Wash.  Ter.,  September  20th,  1885. 

Mr.  I.  J.  T Governor  [Mason]  made  a  brief  call 

here  yesterday  ;  but  as  I  intimated  to  you  would  be  the  case,  it 
had  little  significance.  He  is  not  a  frank  man  by  any  means, 
but  reflects  dark  and  hidden  influences,  which  fears  the  scru- 
tiny of  light. 

He  would  give  me  to  understand  that  he  will  let  me  go 
when  the  Legislature  meets  in  December. 


Very  Truly, 


Geo.  W.  France." 


I.  J.  T . .  wrote  as  here  to  follow : 

"  October  27th,  1885. 

We  liave  waited  patiently  to  hear  from  the  Governor, 

but  have  not.  And  he  advised  me  not  to  get  up  more  petitions  till  I  heard 
from  him;  and  in  him  alone  lays  our  hope  of  your  release,  so  I  deem  it 
presumptuous  to  go  contrary  to  his  advice  in  the  matter,  but  I  will  write 
to  him  again  and  lay  the  case  in  all  its  bearings  before  him.         I.  J.  T." 

And  afterwards  wrote:   "I  had  several  letters  from  the  Governor,  but 
he  justp?*^  me  of,  and  I  do  not  think  that  our  efforts  were  of  any  use. 

I.  J.  T." 

"  November  20th. — No  Governor  here  yet. 

"A  cunning  man  is  never  a  firm  man;  but  an  honest  man 
is ;  a  double-minded  man  is  always  unstable  ;  a  man  of  truth  is 
firm  as  a  rock.  Be  true.  Don't  be  a  sneak.  Never  undertake 
anything  you  are  ashamed  of,  or  ought  to  be  ashamed  of. 
When  your  cause  is  good,  advocate  it  openly  and  manfully. 
Never  burrow  in  the  dark.  If  you  do,  rest  assured  your  deeds 
will  come  to  light  and  to  your  own  confusion.  Don't  talk  one 
way  and  act  another.     That  is  deception  ;  and  a  deceiver  when 


400  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

he  is  found  out  is  always  despised,  as  lie  should  be.  There  is 
nothing  more  worthy  of  approval  and  esteem  than  a  sincere, 
frank,  honest  and  true  man,  whose  words  are  the  real  repre- 
sentatives of  his  feelings,  and  who  despises  in  his  heart  low, 
selfish  cunning.  Be  a  true  man.  Be  frank,  honest  and  sincere. 
Don't  become  a  low,  cunning  trickster.  Don't.  It  never  pays 
in  the  outcome. 

Edward  Irving." 

"  November  29th.  —  See  the  following  item  in  several 
papers : 

^^  Petition  for  a  pardon. — A  petition  is  being  circulated  in  Columbia 
County,  W.  T.,  asking  Gov.  [Mason]  to  pardon  George  W.  France,  who, 
it  will  be  remembered,  killed  [Links  Jumper]  a  number  of  years  ago  near 
Peola  over  some  land  dispute.  France  has  already  served  six  years  and  is 
in  very  jjoor  health." 

One  of  the  lawyer  traitors,  who  done  me  up,  had  a  close 
friend  in  the  gang  who  published  a  paper  that  continually 
puflfed  the  little  shyster  into  notice,  so  that  immigrants  might 
fall  within  his  grasp.  Indeed,  sometimes  he  edited  the  sheet 
himself  ;  and  this  to  follow,  is  what  it  said  : 

"Another  effort  is  being  made  in  Columbia  County  to  secure  a  i^ardon 
for  George  W.  France,  the  slayer  of  [Links  Jumper].  He  has  been  in  the 
jjenitentiary  six  years  and  ought  to  remain  there  six  years  longer." 

[He  evidently  expected  that  I  "would  be  troublesome  "  to 
him  when  I  got  out,  as  he  had  been  to  me  in  getting  me  iu. 
And  he  left  that  section,  going  to  one  that  was  just  filling  with 
immigrants,  to  waylay  them.] 

Such  gentry  are  the  -poioer  behind  the  throne ;  against  the 
-people,  against  truth  and  good  faith,  against  all  that  is  equal, 
just  and  fair  and  humane.  Could  anarchy  be  a  worse  con- 
dition ? 

"  The  Walla  Walla  Journal  in  full  recognition  of  all  legal 
consequences,  says  that  [the  editor  of  the  aforesaid  sheet]  is  a 
perjured  scoundrel"  etc.,  etc. 

December  7th,  1885. — "Legislature  convened,  and  no  Governor  here 
since  September  19th,  or  any  information  from  him." 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  the  Governor  says  he 
"  has  granted  no  pardons,  except  as  rebarte  for  good  conduct." 


My  Eelease.  401 


Has  not  a  word  to  say  about  tlie  injustice,  corruptions  and 
brutality  of  the  contract  bastile;  or  of  the  asylum;  or  the  steal- 
ing by  the  gang  of  the  University  lands.  Is  pleased  that  "the 
Territory  is  an  attractive  field  for  the  "  legal  profession "  and 
favors  their  being  encouraged  and  even  turned  out  at  the 
expense  of  the  people,  instead  of  showing  how  easy  this  swarm 
of  vermin  could  be  done  away  with  by  reforming  the  Judiciar}-, 
and  how  much  better  this  would  be.  Gives  the  excuse  of  the 
territorial  treasurer  for  paying  out  money  without  any  warrant, 
on  the  ground  that  he  "had  conformed  to  the  practice  of 
former  years."  Favors  a  strong  and  "  loyal "  militia  who  will 
blindly  obey  their  [masonic]  commanders  to  protect  the  Chin- 
ese; while  American  citizens  are  afforded  no  protection  against 
the  robber  clans,  and  when  stripped  of  their  property  are  in 
large  numbers  stigmatized  as  tramps  and  vagrants  and  driven 
out,  with  no  "  strong  and  loyal "  militia  to  protect  thein,  or 
Governor  to  plead  their  cause. 

A  General  of  this  militia  was  afterwards  indicted  eight  (8) 
times  for  forgery  and  robbing  a  county  treasury  of  over 
$60,000  ;  then  the  "  charitable  brethren "  interfered  with  the 
"  good  Judiciary  "  which  2^ut  off  his  case,  while  they  railroaded 
through  to  prison  a  lot  of  outsiders,  to  be  held  there  for  5,  7,  8, 
9,  10  and  14  years,  for  stealing  a  little  grub,  a  few  dollars,  or  a 
horse !  And  the  General  of  the  loyal  (?)  militia  has  never  been 
punished  at  all,  but  is  picnicing  with  the  plunder,  and  Avas 
billed  to  marshal  a  Fourth  of  July  parade  ! 

From  the  ring  Press. — "Doesn't  affect  the  parade." — "There  lias  been 
not  a  little  gossip  in  this  city,  since  the  indictments  have  been  foiiutl 
against  General  [Mason] ,  as  to  the  jjropriety  of  that  gentleman  leading  the 
column  in  the  great  parade  here  on  the  Fourth  of  July.  So  frequent  had 
the  question  been  asked  on  the  street,  that  the  P.  I.  correspondent  called 
upon  the  chairman  of  the  [ring]  committee  on  programme  and  asked  him, 
if  there  had  been  any  change  in  the  arrangements  with  regard  to  General 
[Mason].  "Certainly  not,"  said  he,  "while  there  have  been  some  ugly 
charges  entered  against  General  [Mason] ,  he  has  not  been  tried  ui^on  them 
or  adjudged  guilty,  and  it  is  not  for  us  to  do  one  or  the  other  in  advance 
of  the  court."  [Oh,  how  considerate  Avith  one  of  the  gang.]  "He  is  the 
Adjutant  General  of  the  militia  of  the  Territory,  and  as  such  was  invited 
to  marshal  the  j^arade.  He  has  accepted,  and  no  other  arrangement  will 
be  made,  of  course,  so  long  as  he  signifies  his  willingness  to  serve  by  not 
resigning." 
2& 


402  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

[So  the  subjects  of  tlie  secret  governments  desecrate  and 
trail  our  flag  in  the  dirt.  Indeed,  the  time  will  come  when 
such  gentlemen  will  need  a  "  strong  and  loyal"  militia  to  guard 
their  lives  and  plunder  from  the  wrath  and  justice  of  the 
people  whom  they  spurn,  loot  and  shoot  down.  Think  of  a 
gang  of  such  "  loyal "  (?)  men  shooting  down  unarmed  citizens 
in  the  streets,  as  they  did  at  Seattle,  and  talking  about  the 
"  equal  rights  of  men."  He  was  made  General  and  "  billed  to 
marshal  the  Fourth  of  July  parade !  "  Why  then  should  other 
criminals  reform !  when  the  courts  and  government  are  thus 
prostituted  and  virtue  made  a  cringing  slave  to  depravity  or 
shot  down  in  the  streets  and  field  ?  And  when  this  Governor, 
in  violation  of  law,  to  protect  masonic  Chinamen,  and  his 
"loyal "  militia  who  were  being  arrested /or  murder,  and  when 
good  citizens  could  get  no  protection ;  he  formed  a  military 
commission  "  the  most  powerful  court  under  military  govern- 
ment "  and  detained  this  very  General  as  Jvdge  Advocate  and 
Recorder  of  this  extra  "  good  Judiciary,"  to  try  and  punish 
offenders  against  white  and  yellow  Chinamen  ! 

Jan,  Sth,  1886. — "Rev.  Parker  here.  Brought  message  to  Mr.  S. . . 
from  members  of  the  Legislature,  that  they  '  -would  shake  the  swindle  up 
and  end  the  prison  contract. ' " 

Jan.  Till. — "No  Legislature  or  Governor  here  yet." 
I  sent  the  following  petition  to  the  Legislature  : 

"  Seatco  Prison,  W.  T  ,  January  Sth,  1886. 

I  hereby  respectfully  and  earnestly  petition  the  Legislature 
to  rigidly  investigate  my  case  and  duress — according  me  a  full 
and  respectful  hearing  as  to  the  same. 

I  earnestly  certify,  that  I  have  been  unjustly,  cruelly  and 
corruptly  held  in  prison  for  over  seven  (7)  years,  when  it  has 
and  can  be  shown  beyond  dispute  or  refutation,  that  there 
never  was  even  the  shadow  of  any  true  case  of  crime  against 
me,  and  ha\dng  all  the  time  an  abundance  of  proof  to  so 
establish  my  case ;  that  I  was  shanghaied  and  not  convicted, 
and  every  effort  to  make  the  fact  known  to  the  people  has  been 
squelched.  That  I  have  as  worthy  petitions  and  other  show- 
ings as  was  ever  filed  at  Olympia.  That  Judge  Wingard, 
learning  the  injustice  of  my  "  conviction  "  (?)  joined  in  urging 
my  case  repeatedly  to  the  Governor — so  that  he  declares  he 


^o  DIVERSITY  ^ 
My  Kelease.  403 


"has  done  more  for  my  release  than  he  ever  before  did  for 
any  man  in  prison,"  and  that  I  "  should  have  had  a  new  trial." 
Please  investigate,  give  me  a  hearing  as  to  any  point  held 
against  me,  and  take  such  action  as  is  found  to  be  just. 

Geo.  "W.  France." 

Jan.  19th. — M. . .  and  K. . .  liere  from  Dayton.  Bring  "word  that  tlie 
county  officials  and  "everybody  "  will  sign  my  petition. 

Jn)i.  2-5tli.. — "Priest  here.  Took  petition  of  the  prisoners  to  the 
Legislature  to  appoint  the  Chajilains,  or  other  outsiders,  as  a  commission 
to  investigate  and  report  to  the  Governor  as  to  any  prisoner's  conduct;  also 
to  pass  a  one-third  rebate  law,  "like  that  of  other  States,  for  good  conduct. 
The  priest  and  the  other  visiting  minister  will  favor  the  same."  [N.  B. — 
But  they  wei-e  ignored,  because  it  would  interfere  with  the  gang.] 

February  1st. — "  Kev.  Parker  here  from  Olympia.  Thinks  the  prison- 
ers will  be  removed  to  Walla  Walla  in  July,  to  xitilize  their  labor  in  the 
building  of  a  Territorial  Prison  that  is  jjrovided  for  to  be  built  there.  And 
also  thinks  and  prays  that  Governor  [Mason]  will  soon  be  removed. " 

During  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  discussing  the 
Local  Option  Bill,  the  Governor  is  reported  as  saying  as  to  his 
approving  or  vetoing  it : 

"I  must  say  that  I  feel  a  great  deal  of  embarrassment  from  the  situa- 
tion in  which  I  am  jilaced  with  such  pUes  of  remonstrances  and  petitions, 
on  the  one  hand  and  on  the  other,  constantly  coming  in.  There  was  a 
telegram  from  Tacoma  with  thirteen  pages  of  signatures,  and  others  from 
other  places Telegrams  have  come  from  Seattle,  signed  by  promi- 
nent business  men,  and  last  night  a  message  came  from  eleven  business 
men,  four  of  them  hquor  dealers,  asking  for  the  approval  of  the  Local 
Option  BiU. 

This  matter  of  petitions  is  one  tliat  is  of  very  uncertain  quantity.  I  have 
had  petitions  come  in  here,  for  the  pardon  of  prisoners,  signed  by  almost 
everybody  in  the  county,  and,  yet,  neither  the  Judge  nor  the  Prosecuting 
Attorney  had  signed  them.  It  may  seem  presumptuous  to  open  this 
matter,  but  I  deem  it  due  to  myself  to  respect  a  request  to  be  heard  on  a 
question  of  this  kind." 

Whenever  the  people  suffer  one  or  two  members  of  a  secret 
sworn  brotherhood,  ivlio  belong  first  to  their  gang,  to  exercise 
more  influence  and  power  than  all  the  people  combined,  then 
whiskey  and  vice  are  sure  to  get  a  hearing,  while  liberty,  virtue, 
right  and  justice  are  spurned  to  languish. 

When  the  "  judge  and  prosecuting  attorney"  are  mere  tools 
of  the  gang,  as  is  so  often  the  case,  where  then !  is  there  any 
recourse  for  their  victims  ? 


404  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

If  the  earnest  will  and  voice  of  the  people  is  thus  to  be 
spurned  at  the  crook  of  the  finger  of  perhaps  the  vilest  villain 
in  the  gang!  (as  has  been  seen)  what  is  there  then  in  the 
most  sacred  right  of  petition  ? 

Is  a  masonic  railroad  company  a  friend  to  justice  or  the 
people  ?  Can  one  of  the  people  get  any  justice  against  such  a 
gang  in  the  "  good  judiciary  ?  " 

And,  moreover,  will  not  the  "  good  judiciary  "  bankrupt 
him  if  he  appeals  to  it  for  a  final  decision  ? 

Is  the  masonic  gang,  called  the  "  members  of  the  bar,"  a 
friend  to  justice  or  the  people  ? 

Do  they  not  cause  all  the  laws  to  be  flawed,  so  that  it  is 
simpl}^  a  matter  of  fancy  or  of  interest  or  corruption  as  to  what 
they  are  to  be  held  to  be  one  thing  to-day  and  another  thing 
next  month  for  a  price  ? 

Do  they  not,  as  secret  middlemen,  make  the  courts  sink 
of  prostitution  and  cold-blooded  robbery  ? 

Are  they  not  as  a  cancer  to  the  people  ?  Are  not  judges 
and  prosecuting  attorneys  o/"  this  gang  and  secret  sworn  brethren? 

Do  not  the  masonic  railroad  companies  really  make  the 
selections  for  ofiice,  and  are  supported  by  a  petition  of  the 
brother  members  of  the  "bar"  — the  cancer  of  the  people  ? 

Could  a  prince  of  virtue  and  ability  get  a  judgeship  against 
both  or  either  of  these  masonic  "  charitable  societies,"  the 
cancer  of  the  p)^ople  ? 

Where  then  is  a  victim's  recourse  when  the  people  even  en 
masse  are  considered  as  a  "  very  uncertain  qvuntity,"  as  against 
one  of  these  tools  of  the  gang,  whose  stay  in  office  depends  on 
the  amount  of  innocent  blood  and  plunder  he  sucks  from  the 
victims !  when  the  most  sacred  right  of  petition  is  nullified, 
spurned  and  spit  upon  ? 

That  the  cancer  may  suck  the  homes  and  heart's  blood  of 
its  victims.  No  law  should  be  made  or  unmade  against  the  ex- 
pressed will  of  two-thirds  of  the  people.  Nor  should  any  hill 
become  a  laio  until  sanctioned  hy  the  people,  and  when  thus  en- 
dorsed no  court  should  he  alloioed  to  abrogate  or  nullify  it.  If  the 
people  do  not  know  their  constitution,  and  whether  a  law  would 
violate  it,  then  it  is  time  for  them  to  build  one  that  they  can 
understand. 


My  Kelease.  405 


If  the  courts  were  honest  they  would  not  wait  till  laws 
have  been  in  force  for  eleven  or  seventeen  years,  and  then 
annul  them  to  enrich  the  gang.  But  they  would  confirm  or 
abrogate  ihem.  forthwith  on  their  enactment,  if  at  all. 

But  a  mere  sprig  of  a  cancer  need  not  be  expected  to  favor 
such  reforms.  He  would  sooner  build  with  the  people's  money 
a  hatchery  to  breed  little  cancers,  for  such  an  "  attractive  field." 

"  February  4th,  1886. — Legislature  adjourned  without  visiting  this 
place.  It  is  left  discretionary  with  the  Governor  whether  the  jjrisoners 
are  taken  away  the  first  of  July  or  held  here  to  enrich  the  gang,  till  the 
prison  is  built. " 

"Seatco  Pkison,  Wash.  Tek.,  February  16th,  1886. 
Hon.  K.  O.  D.  . . . 

Deak  Sir  : — Will  you  please  inform  me  as  to  the  action  taken  on  my 
petition  to  the  late  Legislature  for  an  investigation  of  my  case  and  duress, 
and  whether  it  was  squelched  and  the  reason  therefore,  and  greatly  obhge, 

Geo.  W.  Feance." 
More  rot. 

" GoiiDENDAiiE,  Wash.  Tee.,  March  4th,  1886. 
Geo.  W.  Feance  : 

DearSie: — The  Legislature  concluded  that  it  was  not  proj^er  for  it 
to  take  criminal  matters  out  of  the  hands  of  the  courts.  The  only  party 
to  api^eal  to  after  conviction  is  the  Governor.  If  the  Legislature  should 
go  into  the  subject  of  investigation  there  would  be  Httle  use  for  courts.  If 
yours  is  a  meritorious  case,  and  the  Governor  is  apprised  of  the  facts,  that 
would  go  to  show  the  error  of  your  conviction,  I  have  no  doubt  that  he 
will  extend  the  executive  clemency.     Youi's  Kespectfully,         R.  O.  D. . ." 

Then,  when  the  Governor  belongs  to  the  gang,  there  is  no 
recourse  for  one  of  their  victims.  And  if  the  Legislature  will 
not  investigate  and  correct  such  corrupt  abuses,  then  there  is 
"little  use  "  for  legislatures.  One  who  writes  or  talks  like  E. 
O.  D .  .  on  being  informed  of  such  distress,  is  either  a  fool  or  a 
thief. 

The  kind  of  an  outfit  this  Legislature  was  and  how  it 
was  run  by  masonic  gangs. 

From  tlie  Press  : — "  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  a  more 
corrupt,  worthless  and  faithless  body  than  the  wretched  Legis- 
lature of  1885.  Upon  the  members  of  that  body  the  railroad 
strikers  of  Oregon  and  Washington  set  to  work  as  they  had 
never  set  to  work  before.  A  lobby  [mason]  was  established  at 
Olympia,  which  practiced  methods  of  such  shameless  corrup- 


406  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

tion  as  has  seldom  been  seen  in  the  United  States.  The  real 
story  of  the  last  Legislature,  of  the  lobby  established  by  two 
great  corporations  who  combined  in  the  nefarious  work  of  de- 
feating the  will  of  the  people,  of  the  open  and  notorious  cor- 
ruption which  was  employed  to  bind  a  majority  as  with  hooks 
of  steel  to  their  [masonic]  masters,  of  the  means  by  which  any 
legislation  in  the  interest  of  the  people  was  prevented  :  that 
story  has  never  been  told,  and  if  it  ever  is  told  and  told  truly, 
the  people  will  listen  with  amazement  to  a  story  of  corruption 

such  as  has  seldom  blotted  the  annals  of  free  government 

. .  .  .All  good  citizens  should  hope  that  the  next  Legislature 
will  be  a  vast  improvement  on  the  last.  It  it  is  not,  the  people 
of  Washington  Territory  had  better  give  up  the  idea  of  at- 
tempting to  govern  themselves,  and  throw  themselves  upon  the 
protection  of  some  kind-hearted  Czar." 

[But  the  gangs  prevent  by  laiu  and  a  corrupt  judiciary  the 
telling  of  the  "  true  stories  "  of  corruption  and  crime  of  their 
members.  Here  following  is  what  one  of  the  gang  says  as  to 
such  law.] 

"Below  is  given  the  text  of  the  libel  law.  It  makes  the  publisher  of 
a  libel  i-esi^onsible  in  civil  damages  or  criminally,  and  we  believe  it  to  be 
a  good  law  that  no  fair,  honest  man  need  fear,  but  which  will  have  a 
salutary  effect  upon  all  evil-minded  jDersons." 

\^And  lierefolloios  the  truth  ;] 

"  An  attorney  in  this  city  assures  us  that  the  lately  enacted 
libel  law  is  operative  only  against  decent  people,  and  is  null 
and  void  against  persons  destitute  of  good  character."  [None 
of  the  laws  are  operative  against  members  of  the  gang,  and  a 
Judge  has  lately  openly  declared  substantially,  that  "  the  laws 
against  stealing  do  not  apply  to  members  of  the  gang."  One 
who  had  robbed  a  county  treasury  was  discharged  by  the 
•court  "  because  the  law  did  not  apply  to  him  "  (or  his  case), 
"  that  it  is  so,  he  is  2>ositive.    It  is  a  delightful  law,  indeed,  that 

will  tolerate  and  foster  a  social  condition  of  this  nature It 

was  perhaps  an  understanding  of  this  character  that  induced 
notoriously  bad  men,  scandal-mongers,  and  professional  libelers, 
to  urge  the  passage  of  this  libel  law,  that  they  might  go  on  in 
their  wickedness,  and  flourish  at  the  expense  of  the  better 
portion  of  the  community." 


My  Release.  407 


Again. — "One  of  tlie  last  acts  of  the  Legislature -was  to  jjass  a  law, 
exempting  from  'taxation  charitable  institutions  and  church  edifices  fud 
grounds  to  the  extent  of  S5000  in  value. 

The  ijeojjle  of  Washington  Temtory  at  the  last  general  election  decid- 
ed by  an  overwhelming  majority  in  favor  of  taxing  church  property.  The 
Legislature  did  very  wrong  in  passing  such  a  law."  [But  they  consider 
the  people  a  '■'■very  uncertain  quant  it  i/."'\ 

This  bill  was  enacted  so  as  to  exempt  from  taxation  tlic 
dens  and  other  property  of  the  midnight  gangs,  whicli  are  con- 
sidered by  the  brethren  in  office  as  "charitable  institutions." 

Again  from  the  Press. — "It  will  take  two  years  and  an  outlay  of 
thousands  of  dollars  in  legal  exi:)enses,  to  decide  what  is  laAv.  About  the 
first  thing  that  a  lawyer  now  undei-takes  in  the  interest  of  his  client  [if  he 
belongs  to  the  gang]  is  to  get  the  laws  "busted,"  if  thereby  he  can  gain 
an  advantage." 

And  again. — "It  is  asserted  that  every  corrupt  practice  is 
brought  into  play,  that  money  is  freely  used,  that  men  recom- 
mended by  their  duplicity  and  their  ability  as  fixers  have  been 
imported  from  beyond  the  borders  of  the  Territory  to  perform 
the  filthy  work  of  the  lobby,  and  that  the  wishes  of  the  people 
have  been  deliberately  overridden  by  lobbyist  and  legislator 
alike 

They  can  and  do  exert  a  supervision  over  all  legislation, 
and  defeat  any  that  is  conceived  in  the  interest  of  the  j^eojyle.  The 
managers  of  the  lobby  at  Olympia,  among  whom  are  a  well 
known  Oregon  politician,  and  an  equally  well  known  Territor- 
ial Official  [both  masons,  of  course],  it  is  asserted,  receive  daily 
instructions  from  headquarters — instructions  it  is  safe  to  say 
they  carry  out  to  the  letter.  Never  has  our  Territory  been  so 
shamefully,  outrageously  disgraced.  ..  .never  have  a  people 
been  bound  hand  and  foot  and  handed  over  to  their  enemies  by 
their  faithless  servants  in  a  more  shameful  manner.  If  there 
is  a  citizen  of  the  Territory  who  does  not  blush  at  the  thought 
of  this  corruption,  he  is  unworthy  of  his  citizenship.  These 
facts  are  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  people  slowly.  This  is  to 
be  accounted  for  in  several  ways.  The  devotion  of  both  of  the 
Olympia  newspapers  to  the  cause  of  monopoly  [masonry],  their 
connection  with  all  that  is  evil  in  our  politics,  and  their  hostil- 
ity to  every  popular  movement  is  well  known.  They,  of  course, 
could  be  relied  upon  not  to  tell  anything  of  the  operations  of 


408  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

the  lobb3\  The  correspondents  at  Olympia  have,  with  one  ex- 
ception, been  purchased  or  cajoled,  and  have  become  pliant 
tools  of  the  corruptionists.  With  such  a  condition  of  affairs  it 
has  been  an  easy  matter  to  carry  on  the  nefarious  work  as  if  in 
the  dark — to  persuade  legislators  that  their  actions  would 
never  be  known  by  their  constituents." 

"March  19th,  1880. — I  wrote  to  the  prison  director  who 
was  to  assist  the  Governor  in  the  investigation  of  my  case  : 

"  When  you  were  here  with  the  Governor  you  appeared  to 
be  interested  in  my  case,  and  said  you  would,  at  the  Governor's 
request,  investigate  the  matter,  including  all  the  papers  on  file, 
and  would  also  write  to  the  references  as  to  the  same.  But  I 
have  failed  to  hear  anything  further  from  you  or  the  Governor. 
And  I  am  still  here,  suffering  the  cruel  ravages  of  the  black 
conspiracy Now  I  earnestly  request  you  to  frankly  and  de- 
finitely answer  me  the  following  questions.  Will  you,  please, 
do  so? 

First. — What  papers,  letters,  etc.,  did  you  find  on  file  as  to 
my  case  at  Olympia  ? 

Second. — Will  you,  please,  answer  the  questions  and  points 
as  given  and  numbered  in  my  argument  and  plea  ? 

Third. — Is  not  my  case  and  innocence  fully  shown  and  de- 
monstrated ?     If  not,  on  ivhat  point  ? 

Fourth.  —Are  not  my  references  for  proof  very  complete 
and  knowing,  and  as  worthy  of  belief  and  influence  as  any 
against  me  ? 

Fifth. — Is  there  any  stronger  case,  in  justice  and  right,  or 
any  urged  by  better  or  more  competent  witnesses  and  proof  than 
given  in  my  favor  ?     If  so,  please  name  any  such  case  ! 

Sixth.— Is  it  fair  play  to  be  influenced  and  controlled  in 
such  matters  by  secret  influences  that  fear  the  scrutiny  of  light? 

Seventh. —  Why  is  a  respectful  hearing  and  an  open  daylight 
investigation  of  my  case  always  squelched  ? 

Eighth. — Does  not  Judge  Wingard  declare  virtually,  that  I 
am  unjustly  held  in  prison? 

Now,  Mr ,  please  be  so  good  as  to  answer  my  questions 

honestly,  frankly  and  specifically — numly.     And  greatly  oblige 
Yours  very  respectfully, 

Geo.  W.  France." 


My  Eei^ase.  409 


"P.  S. — If  you  will  not  answer  these  questions,  which  are 
of  such  vital  concern  to  me,  please  transmit  the  same  to  the 
Governor,  with  my  request  that  he  will  do  so.  G.  W.  F." 

To  which  he  replied  (?),  ignoring  my  questions— fearing  to 
face  the  truth,  as  they  always  did — and  gave  this  rot  as  a 
"reply  "  : 

"In  reply  I  will  say: — I  had  not  forgotten  your  case,  biit  it  stands  in 
the  way.  The  case  is  before  the  Governor  for  his  action  and  investigation, 
and  is  entirely  out  of  my  reach.  I  have  had  a  number  of  talks  with  the 
Governor  and  have  tendered  him  my  services  whenever  he  requires  them. 
That  is  all  I  could  do.  The  Governor  has  his  own  ideas  of  these  matters, 
and  yoiir  only  Avay  is  to  address  him  direct.  His  convei'sation  A\T[th  me 
was  confldential.     I  will,  therefore,  not  repeat  it." 

So  the  matter  was  conceded  to  be  a  ring  secret,  that  they 
were  bound  to  heep  in  the  dark. 

As  to  me  "  addressing  the  Governor  direct,"  I  had  al- 
ready done  so,  but  with  no  more  effect,  than  if  he  ivas  pledged  to 
the  gang  to  keep  the  matter  in  the  dark,  so  it  would  not  be 
"troublesome"  to  them. 

A  man  had  been  elected  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  as  a 
champion  of  the  people  against  the  gang  known  as  the  N.  P.  R. 
K.  But  whether  he  was  a  mason  himself  and  thus  betrayed 
the  people  I  did  not  know,  but  thought  I  would  find  out  whether 
he  would  really  defend  one  of  the  people  against  the  gang.  So 
I  addressed  him  as  here  to  follow: 

Seatco  Prison,  Thurston  Co.,  W.  T.,  April  7th,  1886. 
Hon.  C.  S.  VooKHEES,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — Over  seven  years  ago,  by  the  aid  of  C  ..'s  treachery,  I 
was  shanghaied  from  my  home  in  Columbia  County  and  incarcerated  in 
this  prison. 

It  was  a  conspiracy  to  murder  and  rob  me,  I  being  possessed  of  a 
$25,000  plant  and  fortune  I  had  honestly  earned,  as  the  land  records  will, 
in  a  degree,  show.  In  repelling  a  murderous  attack  with  a  carbine,  wliile 
l)eaceably  at  work  on  my  own  home,  I  returned  the  fire  with  a  pocket 
pistol,  killing  one  of  the  gang  who  was  thus  shooting  at  me,  kilhng  a  horse 
by  my  side.  And  he  having  sworn  to  kill  me  at  such  time,  place  and  cir- 
cumstance. Then  by  the  treachery  of  C. . .  and  another  blackleg  shyster 
(B. .  . )  a  large  amount  of  money  was,  under  base,  false  pretensions,  extorted 
from  me,  without  aftbrding  me  any  real  trial — which  I  have  always  failed 
to  get — and  the  facts  of  the  damnable  outrage  are  sought  to  be  buried  with 
me  in  this  prison,  while  my  family  would  be  destroyed.     Every  effort  to 


410  Extracts  from  Diary  Kjept  in  Prison. 

procure  an  open,  honest  investigation  lias  "been  squelched;  the  Governors 
putting  me  off  with  false  promises  and  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  all  of  my 
appeals  as  -vNell  as  from  Judge  Wingard  (to  -whom  I  refer),  my  neighbors 
and  that  of  others  usually  successful  in  releasing  prisoners  from  other 
prisons.  There  was  never  the  shadow  of  any  true  case  against  me;  so  evi- 
dent is  this,  that  no  ojyen  opposition  has  appeared  against  my  release,  and 
the  Governors  kno>r  that  I  am  innocent  of  any  crime. 

I  have  been  informed  that  I  coiild  get  out  for  more  money ;  but  I 
earnestly  aj^peal  to  you  to  present  my  case  to  the  President,  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior  and  to  Congress,  and  establish  whether  there  is  any 
recourse  in  such  a  case  of  cruel,  brutal,  inhuman  outrage  and  ravage, 
or  not. 

I  have  ai)pealed  in  vain  to  the  Governors  to  put  a  finger  on  any  point 

or  jihase  charged  against  me,  that  has  not  been  completely  refuted,  and 

that  it  would  be,  beyond  question.     But  they  could  not  do  it  and  will  not 

attempt  it.  Yours  verv  truly, 

Geo.  W.  France." 

("Written  after  my  release.) 

"Peola,  Garfield  Co.,  W.  T.,  July  28tli,  1888. 
Hon.  C.  S.  Voorhees,  Wasliington,  D.  C: 

Dear  Sir  : — I  wrote  to  you  by  registered  letter,  April  7tli, 
1886,  informing  you  that  I  had  been  shanghaied,  and  was  then 
incarcerated  in  the  Seatco  contract-bastile.  That  I  was  inno- 
cent of  any  crime,  and  had  never  had  and  could  never  get  any 
real  trial,  or  find  any  recourse  in  the  territory,  etc.,  etc.  And 
appealed  to  you  to  present  my  case  to  the  President,  Secretary 
of  the  Interior,  and  to  Congress. 

But  I  never  received  even  a  reply.     I  desire,  if  you  please, 

to  know  your  reason  for  thus  ignoring  such  an   appeal   for 

justice  and  humanity  in  behalf  of  a  pioneer  homebuilder,  cruelly 

languishing  in  prison  to  be  plundered  and  ravaged  by  the  gang. 

Very  truly,  Geo.  W.  France." 

(  "House  of  EEPEESENTATrvES,  U.  S., 
(         Washington,  D.  C,  August  9th,  1888. 
Geo.  W.  France,  Esq.,  Peola,  Wash.: 

Sie: — I  have  no  recollection  whatever  as  to  the  circumstance  to 
which  you  refer  in  your  letter  of  the  28th  ult.  I  will  be  glad  to  serve  you 
in  any  way  I  can,  if  you  "vvill  make  the  case  known  to  me. 

Yours  truly,  C.  S.  Voorhees." 

"Peola,  GAitFiELD  Co.,  W.  T.,  August  23rd,  1888. 
Hon.  C.  S.  Voorhees  : 

Dear  Sir  : — Tour  favor  of  the  9th  inst.  at  hand.     I  enclose 


My  Release.  411 


Post  Office  receipt  of  the  letter  I  wrote  to  you  while  falsely 
confined  in  the  Seatco  bastile. 

You  can  serve  me  and  a  just  cause  by  having  the  depart- 
ment investigate  the  matter  and  find  out  to  a  certainty  toho 
stole  that  letter  ?  Other  functions  of  the  Government  were  pros- 
tituted against  me,  and  the  post-master,  being  one  of  the  prison 
contractors,  may  be  the  thief. 

The  letter  was  of  the  greatest  vital  importance — beyond 
that  of  dollars  and  cents — and  noio  let  it  he  knoiun  wJiefher  such 
brutal  crimes  can  he  done  ivith  impunity  or  not.  Many  of  my  let- 
ters were  never  received,  and  I  wish  you  to  inform  me  ivhether 
you  will  push  and  stay  with  this  matter  to  a  definite  conclusion. 
Yours  truly,  Geo.  W.  France." 

"Colfax,  W.  T.,  September  7th,  1888. 
Geo.  W.  Fbance,  Peola,  W.  T. : 

Dear  Sir  : — If  you  will,  upon  my  return  to  Washington  next  fall,  again 
direct  my  attention  to  the  subject  matter  of  your  letter  of  the  23d  ult., 
■which  was  forwarded  me  here,  I  will  very  gladly  institute  such  investi- 
gations as  you  suggest.  I  return  the  registry  receipt  with  the  suggestion 
that  you  "will  send  it  to  me  when  you  write  in  the  latter  part  of  Novem- 
ber. Very  truly  yours,  C.  S.  Vookhees." 

"December  10th,  1888. 

...  .In  accordance  with  your  promise  to  investigate, 
etc.,  the  matter  of  the  loss  or  theft  of  the  letter  I  registered  to 
you  for  investigation  of  my  case  while  falsely  imprisoned,  on 
your  return  to  Washington  from  Colfax,  I  herewith  return  the 
receipt  and  urgently  "  direct  your  attention  to  the  subject "  as 
you  suggested  in  your  letter  of  September  7th,  1888. 

Please  let  me  know  if  you  receive  this,  also  the  result  of 
investigation,  as  I  desire  to  push  the  matter  to  some  definite 
conclusion.  Please  have  the  receipt  preserved,  and  in  case  of 
failure  return  it  to  me  and  greatly  oblige. 

Yours  truly,        Geo.  W.  France." 

This  investigation  was  squelched  also,  and  the  receipt 
stolen  too,  as  I  never  heard  anything  more  about  it.  It  should 
interest  and  spur  the  American  people  to  action  to  know  that 
every  hranch  of  the  government  is  rotten  with  linJced  masonry,  so 
that  only  outside  criminals  can  be  punished  for  crime. 

"  June  14th,  1S86, — Contract  let  at  "Walla  Walla  to  build  a  i^eniten- 
tiary." 


412  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

"July  Int. — Prison  contract  is  expired;  so  the  Governor  can  keep 
the  prisonei-s  wherever  he  pleases,  and  can  utilize  their  labor  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  pen  at  Walla  Walla,  there  being  suitable  temporary  quarters 
that  could  be  had,  or  a  cheap  building  could  be  built  on  the  ground 
and  afterwards  used  for  shoi^s. " 

But  the  Governor  chose  to  leave  the  jirisoners  to  enrich  the  gang 
at  the  expense  of  the  people,  and  continue  the  contract-bastUe-brutality 
as  long  as  jjossible. 

"  July  9th,  1886. — Ex-Governor  [Links]  tells  me  voluntarily, 
that  "  if  lie  was  Governor  he  would  let  me  go,"  that  "  my  con- 
duct has  always  heen  good,"  and  he  "will  recommend  my  pardon 
to  Governor  [Mason]."  I  reply  that  "I  thought  you  was  op- 
posing my  release  ?  " 

"  No,"  he  said ;  "  /  have  not  done  that.  All  I  have  got 
against  you  is,  you  made  Judge  "Wingard  and  me  enemies." 
"  Will  you  give  me  a  copy  of  your  recommendation  to  the  Gov- 
ernor?" said  I. 

"Yes,"  said  he,  "I  will  bring  it  the  next  time  I  come." 
[He  is  now  the  prison  doctor.  It  will  be  remembered  how  / 
made  Links  and  Wingard  enemies.] 

"July  21  ill. — Ex-Governor  (Doctor)  [Links]  here;  said  "he  would 
write  the  recommendation  to  the  Governor  to-night,  as  soon  as  he  got 
home,  and  also  a  copy  of  it  for  me." 

"August  29th,  1886. — Doctor  (ex-Governor)  here;  says  he  '  has  written 
and  sent  to  the  Governor  his  recommendation  for  my  release,'  that  ^ your 
conduct  has  always  been  good,  and  you  have  been  here  long  enough. '  Will 
bring  cojjy  of  it  next  time  he  comes. "     So  he  says,  ■with  his  mouth — more 

EOT. 

"  August  30th. — J.   P..   pardoned  from  Oregon  penitentiary — had  a 
hfe  sentence  and  served  about  five  (5)  years  ;  was  first  sentenced  to  hang." 
"September  IStli. — Governor  [Mason]  goes  to  the  States  without  com- 
ing here  at  all." 

"  Must  rampant  vice  still  triumph  over  laws, 
A)id  will  not  pitying  heaven  avenge  our  cause?  " 
"Only  the  actions  of  the  just  smell  sweet  and  blossom  in  the  dust." 

"  Seatco  Prison,  W.  T.,  October  20th,  1886. 
Hon.  N.  H.  [Mason]: 

Sir: — As  you  are  acting  Governor,  I  most  respectfully  and 
earnestly  appeal  to  you  for  my  restoration. 

I  have  been  cruelly  and  malignantly  imprisoned  for  over 
eight  years.     Yet,  if  you  will  examine  all  the  papers  on  file  in 


My  Release.  413 


my  behalf,  or  heretofore  addressed  to  the  Governors,  and  never 
ansivered,  you  will  be  compelled  to  see  that  I  was  never  guilty 
of  any  crime.  And  which  fact,  if  not  apparent  as  to  any  point, 
I  have  always  begged  to  establish  beyond  dispute,  if  such  point  or 
phase  be  pointed  out  that  is  held  against  me. 

If,  after  all  this  suffering,  and  abuse,  and  ill-health,  and 
ravage,  you  have  the- hardihood  to  reject  my  petition,  at  leas', 
please  answer  this  letter,  and  the  points  made  in  my  argument 
and  plea  on  file — each  to  each,  as  pointed  out  and  numbered 
from  "  one  to  four,"  which  will  be  doing  that  much  more  than 
your  vindictive,  unrelenting  predecessors  have  done,  and  hioto- 
ing  all  the  time  that  I  was  shanghaied  and  betrayed  for  plunder 
and  ravage,  and  that  I  only  defended  my  life. 

Yours  very  truly        Geo.  W.  France." 

This  ofl&cial  was  also  a  secret-sworn-brotherhood-man,  as 
his  evasive  and  contemptible  rot  shows  for  itself,  for  neither 
would  he  face  my  case  at  all,  and  he  holds  that  the  "people  and 
justice  be  damned,"  and  that  the  masonic  prostituted  courts 
are  infallible. 

"Teekitoky  op  Washington. — Secretary's  Office. 

Olympia,  October  28tli,  1886. 
Geo.  W.  France,  Seatco,  W.  T. : 

Dear  Sir  : — In  reply  to  yours  of  the  20th  inst.  I  will  say  that  I 
find  nothing  on  file  in  this  office  that  would  justify  the  executive  in 
taking  action  in  your  case  that  would  set  at  naught  the  action  of  the 
judiciary. 

My  own  idea  in   regard  to   pardons  is   that  in   no  case   should  the 

executive  interfere   with   the  courts,  unless   evidence   is   produced  that 

was  not  before  the  court  and  jury,  that  would  have  cleared  him  on  h! 

trial.     Very  respectfully  yours, 

N.  H.  [Mason],  Acting  Governor." 

The  executive  is  sworn  to  virtually  "  interfere  with  the  courts  " 
whenever  they  are  prostituted,  or  through  error  do  an  injustice 
in  such  cases.  If  the  courts  were  infallible,  there  would  be  no 
need  of  a  higher  power,  and  a  fool  ought  to  know  that  a  secret 
ring  court  and  a  fixed  jury  care  nothing  tvhatever  for  the  kind  or 
amount  of  evidence  in  the  case  of  the  gang  against  a  good  citizen,  or 
a  good  citizen  against  one  of  the  gang,  except  its  bearing  on  the 
public  mind  in  making  them  odious.     Yet  this   ring  official 


414  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

holds  and  acts,  that  in  such  cases  of  court  prostitution  there 
should  be  no  recourse  for  justice  and  truth. 

History  gives  no  account  of  any  more  hellish  tyranny  than 
this. 

The  pardoning  power  should  be  in  i he  hands  of  the  2)eople  of 
each  county  or  judicial  district.  Only  members  of  the  gang 
would  oppose  this,  because  they  could  not  prostitute  the  people 
as  easy  as  they  do  an  office. 

Nearly  all  good  citizens  do  declare  that  the  courts  are  pros- 
tituted against  them,  and  that  they  "  cannot  get  justice  against  a 
member  of  any  m,idnight  brotherhood  " 

^^  February  14th,  1887. — The  new  penitentiary  at  Walla 
Walla  was  turned  over  to  the  Governor  as  '  ready  for  occu- 
pancy.' The  plain  law  requires  the  Governor  to  cause  the 
prisoners  to  be  removed  there  forthioith,  and  appropriated  the 
necessary  means  to  do  so." 

'^ March  15fh,  1887. — Ninety-eight  prisoners  here  now;  the 
Walla  Walla  Board  of  Trade  declares  that, 

"  ^Vll&)•eas,  if  there  is  a  legal  doubt  as  to  tlie  maintaining  of  the  prison- 
ers at  the  Territorial  penitentiary  (at  Walla  Walla),  there  is  manifestly  a 
graver  doubt  of  power  lor  their  maintenance  elsewhere." 

"  But  the  Governor  contends,  that  it  is  more  '  lawful '  to 
continue  the  contract-bastile  till  the  Legislature  meets  again, 
paying  the  gang  hotel  rates  besides  the  labor  of  the  prison- 
ers, than  to  comply  with  the  plain  letter  and  spirit  of  the  law, 
which  was  considered  as  ample  and  all  right  when  it  was  made 
and  signed,  until  now,  when  it  is  to  the  interest  of  the  gang  to 
'  discover '  the  flaw  with  which  they  had  fixed  it.  The  most  of 
the  ring  press  are  howling  for  the  gang,  and  to  rob  the 
people.  They,  too,  have  \just  discovered '  the  hole  or  flaw  in  the 
law.     Of  course,  the  Governor  didnt  see  it  tvJien  he  signed  if." 

"  March  24th,  1887. — Governor  [Mason]  here;  he  had  no- 
thing to  say  to  me  nor  I  to  him.  S .  .  asked  him  about  his 
case;  said  he  'had  never  seen  his  petitions,  though  he  was 
satisfied  they  were  there,  as  S .  .  's  friends  had  told  him  of 
them,  and  he  would  see  the  Judge  about  his  case.'  S .  .  is 
given  to  understand  that  if  he  '  would  leave  the  country  he 
can  get  out.'  Yet  he  knows  of  no  opposition  to  his  release 
except    these    prison    contractors    and    the    ex-Governor ;   he 


My  Kelease.  415 


having  exposed  their  conduct  to  the  Legislature,  and  has  been 
persecuted  accordingly.  Soon  after  Governor  Links  had  been 
removed,  S .  .  as  well  as  myself  asked  him,  if  he  had  left  our 
petitions,  etc.,  on  file  in  the  executive  office,  and  he  replied 
that  he  had  ;  and  subsequently  I  asked  him  again  as  to  mine, 
and  he  said  that  he  had  left  all  of  my  papers,  letters,  *  evey'y- 
thing'  on  file  with  the  new  Governor.  Yet,  now  Governor 
Mason  says  that  he  has  never  even  seen  S .  .  's  petitions,  not- 
withstanding S .  .  told  him  of  them,  and  asked  him  to  examine 
them  at  his  first  visit  here,  when  he  said  that  he  would  '  act  on 
France's  case  the  first  one,'  etc." 

This  is  how  such  officials  attend  to  the  most  vital  business 
(an  oath-hound  trust)  of  their  office,  and  ignore  and  spit  upon 
the  people,  as  an  "  uncertain  quantity." 

"  March  26th. — It  is  reported  that  the  daylight  thrown  on 
the  Governors  conduct  in  keeping  the  prisoners  here  (even 
after  the  completion  of  the  Territorial  penitentiary)  by  the 
people  of  Walla  Walla,  will  cause  the  prisoners  to  be  removed 
after  some  more  parleying. 

It  is  also  reported  that  Governor  Mason  will  soon  be  re- 
moved, and  the  prisoners  rejoice,  declaring  him  to  be  "  even 
worse  than  Links,  and  that  if  this  lane  through  hell  is  to  ever 
have  any  turn,  it  must  be  at  the  next  change  of  the  devils  in 
charge." 

The  democrats  here  have  been  contending  all  the  time  that 
"if  a  democrat  was  appointed  Governor,  he  would  make  a  break 
in  the  ring,  expose  its  corruptions  to  the  people,  and  having 
some  regard  for  the  people's  welfare,  would  be  influenced  by 
them,  instead  of  being  a  tool  of  the  gang,  and  would  reform  the 
office." 

The  republicans  here  have  replied  that  "  while  the  repub- 
lican officials  were  dog-fish  aristocrats,  caring  nothing  for  the 
good  of  the  people,  the  democratic  officials  were  slave  drivers 
by  instinct,"  and  pointed  to  the  prison  contract  system  in  the 
democratic  States.  That  "  while  in  such  cases  the  contractors 
always  paid  the  State  so  much  per  day,  instead  of  being  jMid 
seventy  cents  for  each  prisoner  per  day,  besides  their  labor,  as 
this  gang  was  doing,  yet,  it  was  a  brutality  and  outrage   on 


416  Extracts  fuom  Dfary  Kept  in  Prison. 

men  mostly  hetter  than  themselves,  if  not  such  a  bare-faced  swindle 
in  money  on  the  people  as  in  this  Territory." 

Those  who  had  critically  studied  the  conduct  of  the  offi- 
cials of  both  parties,  maintained  that  there  was  no  more  differ- 
ence between  the  democratic  and  republican  parties  than  there 
is  between  one  masonic  railroad  company  that  has  got  a  rail- 
road from  the  people,  and  another  masonic  railroad  company 
that  is  trying  to  get  the  people  to  give  them  a  railroad,  or  the 
means  to  get  one  without  earning  or  buying  it.  And  that 
there  is  no  more  difference  in  the  principles  and  feelings  of  the 
officials,  or  more  influential  members  of  these  parties,  than  there 
is  between  one  free-mason  or  odd-fellow  chief  and  another 
free-mason  and  odd-fellow  chief,  they  being  linked  together  in 
a  secret  sworn  robber  clan,  as  the  Chinese  highbinders  (free- 
masons) ignoring  and  spurning  our  Government  and  courts,  ex- 
cept to  prostitute  them,  so  as  to  enrich  themselves  and  picnic 
at  the  expense  and  distress  of  the  people.  That  their  prosti- 
tuting secrets  are  so  diabolical  that  it  is  death  to  reveal  them  to 
the  'people. 

'^  April  9th. — Governor  [Mason]  orders  the  prisoners  to  be  removed  to 
WaUa  Walla,  May  1st." 

''  April  10th,  1887. — Governor  [MasonJ  bounced  and  a  'Democrat'  is 
appointed  Governor." 

^^  April  23d. — Governor  ['Democrat']  assumed  his  office. " 

^^ April  29th. — Governor  ['Democrat']  has  suspended  the 
order  to  remove  the  prisoners,  and  the  contractors  smile,  the 
prisoners  shudder  and  remark,  'how  other  men  violate  the  law 
with  impunity.'  " 

" 3Iaij  5th. — Governor  'Democrat'  here;  he  doesn't  want 
to  talk  to  any  prisoners,  which  is  just  as  well,  unless  he  is  more 
truthful  than  his  predecessors.  It  is  reported  that  he  has 
weakened  and  that  the  prisoners  will  leave  here  the  10th  inst." 

If  these  Governors  were  in  irons  as  prisoners,  hoio  their 
physiognomies  would  be  remarked/ 

"  3Iay  10th,  1887. — We  boarded  the  train  for  the  new  prison 
at  Walla  Walla;  occupy  two  passenger  and  one  baggage  car. 
Nothing  very  strange  on  the  road;  about  half  of  the  prisoners 
were  heavily  ironed  in  pairs,  two  of  whom  cut  loose  and  jumped 
out  of  a  window — one  escaping,  the  other  was  stopped  with 


My  Eklease.  417 


pistol  shots.  The  most  of  the  other  men  were  ironed  single ; 
the  balance  of  us  not  at  all.  A  lame  one  *  with  pride  in  his 
port,'  against  whom  the  ex-Governor  and  Co.  had  a  grudge  on 
account  of  his  frank  morals,  though  scarcely  guarding  him  be- 
fore—  sometimes  not  at  all — and  had  never  attempted  to  escape, 
was  now  heavily  riveted  to  an  ugly  Indian — (even  the  day  be- 
fore starting) — to  reduce  his  moral  standard. 

Herod  to  his  sons  : — "  But  do  you,  oh,  my  good  children, 
reflect  upon  the  holiness  of  nature  itself,  by  whose  means 
natural  affection  is  preserved  even  among  wild  beasts  ;  let  this 
oppression  raise  the  fire  of  vengeance  in  your  hearts — deter- 
mined to  be  avenged." 

^'  Far  off  through  the  lone  night  watch  I  had  yearned  for  my  home. 
When  dreams  and  thoughts  of  haj}2)iness  across  my  soul  had  come; 
Yet,  now  my  heart  was  fainting  and  I  gazed  with  anxious  fear 
Upon  the  well-Jc7iow7i  mountains,  though  so  beautifid  and  near." 

"Walla  Walla,  W.  T.,  May  17th,  1887. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingard  : 

Deae  Sir  : — I  am  still  in  prison,  (or  what  is  left  of  me)  and 
no  man  has  yet  dared  to  charge  that  it  is  so  by  any  fault  of 
mine,  and  accord  me  a  fair  chance  to  refute  it.  Neither 
Governor  could,  or  would  thus  mark  a  single  point  against  me; 
they  kneio  there  was  never  any  true  case  against  me ;  they  Icnew 
that  I  was  attacked  on  my  own  home,  and  failing  by  a  scratch 
to  murder  me  there,  that  they  shanghaied  me  to  carry  out  their 
hellish  designs  of  murder,  robbery  and  ravage  by  degrees,  by 
prostituting  the  courts  and  executive  ofl&ce. 

And  yet  they  held  me  down  for  my  heart's  blood  to  be 
wrung  out,  as  though  I  had  not  the  right  to  defend  my  life 
against  a  robber  assassin  firing  at  me  with  a  carbine,  and  the 
magazine  filled  for  the  very  purpose. 

Recall  what  I  told  you  at  the  out-set ;  and  now  that  so 
many  of  my  assertions  are  proven  true  by  a  succession  of  terrible 
events,  that  I  begged  of  you  to  help  prevent  and  thus  save  me 
from  ruin,  you  must  know  that  I  always  spoke  the  truth. 

Although   there   is   comparatively   little   left   for    me    to 

struggle  or  live  for  now,  and  so  many  honest,  earnest  efforts  for 

my  restoration  have  been  spurned  and  spit  upon,  or  squelched, 

yet,  I  wish  to  revive  tliose  true  and  ivorthy  efforts  and  showings 

27 


418  Extracts  from  Diary  Kbit  in  Prison. 

to  tlie  attention  of  Governor  ['Democrat']  and  see  whether 
he,  too,  will  spurn  and  spit  upon  them,  or  will  do  me  what 
justice  he  can.  Will  yon,  therefore,  kindly  renew  your  efforts  in 
my  behalf  to  the  new  Governor? 

Tours  Truly, 

Geo.  W.  France." 

^' 3Iay  20th. — Judge  Wingard  sent  recommendation  (to 
Governor)  to  me,  to  see  it  before  mailing ;  also  sent  excuse  for 
not  coming  to  see  me  personal!}' — that  he  "  did'nt  like  to  show 
discrimination."  [A  Judge  could  learn  more  knowledge  that 
would  fit  him  for  a  Judge  by  visiting  all  of  his  subjects,  than 
he  ever  can  from  law  books.] 

He  says  to  the  Governor:   "I  especially  recommend  for 
pardon  George  W.  France,  as  he  has  fully  expiated  the  crime 
for  which  he  was  convicted  and  sentenced." 
To  which  he  received  the  following  reply  : 

"Washington  Terkitoky,  Executive  Department, 
governor's  office. 

Olympia,  W.  T.,  May  23rd,  1887. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingard,  WaUaWaUa,  W.  T. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  note  of  May  20tli,  recommending  pardon  of  George 
W.  France,  is  received  and  placed  on  file.  There  is  tio  application  for  the 
release  of  this  prisoner  in  this  office. 

Yery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E. . .  [Democrat],  Governor." 

Judge  W . .  sent  me  the  Governor's  letter  to  answer;  which 
I  did  by  giving  the  Governor  a  list  and  synopsis  of  what  should 
be  on  file  in  my  behalf  and  closed  as  here  to  follow : 

"I  submit  that  the  fact  alone  that  a  prisoner's  honest,  earnest 
efforts,  and  that  of  his  friends,  are  stolen  or  squelched,  ought 
to  be  proof  to  an  honest  man,  that  official  functions  have  been 

prostituted  against  him. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Geo.  W.  France." 

"  June  10th,  1887.— One  of  the  guards— an  old  time  ac- 
quaintance—  tells  me  that  " it  is  the  talk"  and  "seems  to  be 
understood  that  you  will  be  released  in  a  few  days."  I  ask 
him  to  be  my  substitute  for  those  "few  days,"  and  he  swears 
that  he  "  really  would  if  he  could,  though  it  were  many  months," 
etc. 


My  Release.  419 


"Walla  Walla,  W.  T.,  June  I5tli,  1887. 
Hon.  S.  C.  Wingaed: 

Dear  Sir  : — I  fortliwitli  wrote  Governor  [Democrat]  in  re- 
gard to  the  absence  of  petitions,  etc.,  etc.,  for  my  release;  citing 
the  greater  part  of  what  should  be  on  file  and  that  Governor 
[Links]  had  repeatedly  declared  that  he  had  left  all — '  every- 
tJiing '  in  my  behalf  on  file ;  and  later  that  he  had  written  to 
Governor  [Mason]  Ms  recommendation  for  my  pardon;  and  that 
Governor  [Mason]  never  disputed  the  same  to  me  ; — but  I  get  no 
reply. 

I  am,  therefore,  constrained  to  request  you  to  answer  him 
(Governor  Democrat)  also,  and  in  as  urgent  a  manner  as  the 
case  demands. 

I  have  but  four  months  from  the  21st  inst.  to  my  short 
time,  which  would  not  justify  the  duplicating  of  all  the  work 
done  for  my  justice,  by  friends  worn  out  in  the  cause,  only  to 
be  lied  to  and  spit  at  by  blackleg  Governors,  at  the  secret  beck 
of  their  kind. 

I  told  Governor  [Democrat]  that  it  was  "  but  a  technical 
sentence,"  done  with  the  understanding  that  I  would  be 
presently  restored." 

Yours  very  truly, 

Geo.  W.  France." 

To  which  Judge  W —  replied  as  follows : 

"  Waui-a  Walla,  Wash.  Tebkitort,  June  20th,  1887. 
Mr.  Geo.  W.  France. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  wi-itten  to  Governor  [Democrat]  as  you  requested. 
Yours,  etc.,  S.  C.  Wingaed." 

[He  got  some  kind  of  a  reply;  to  which  he  replied  June  25th.] 

"  June  25th. — The  warden  tells  me  '  the  Governor  has  sent 
for  my  commitment'  which  is  supposed  to  mean  that  my  case 
is  settled,  that  I  go  forthwith — the  commitment  being  used  to 
make  out  a  pardon." 

"  June  27th. — Judge  Wingard  and  others  called  ;  he  said, 

*  the  Governor  has  sent  for  your  commitment  and  we  expect  to 
see  you  out  very  soon,'  etc.     He  told  another  prisoner  that  he 

*  had  recommended  my  pardon  to  three  Governors,  and  he  is  still 
held.'  " 

July  4th. — E.  V...  and  family  called.    Say,  that  "the  most  of  those 


420  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

•who  Avere  active  against  me,  have  themselves  been  wi-ecked  and  their  true 
characters  exjiosed  in  trying  to  wreck  others,  etc. ;  and  that  they  (my 
neighbors)  want  me  back. " 

The  gang  evidently  sends  in  another  secret  veto,  and  the 
Governor  writes  the  following  contemptible,  rotten  quibble.  It 
is  either  one  false  excuse  or  another  (and,  of  course,  such  can 
alioaijs  be  had)  and  means  that  there  is  no  recourse  for  a  victim 
of  tlie  gang,  and  that  it  still  rules. 

"Olympia,  W.  T.,  July  9th,  1887. 
Hon.  S.  C.  WiNGABD,  WaUaWaUa,  W.  T. 

Deak  Sik  : — Your  letter  of  June  25th  was  duly  received  and  contents 
noted.  Answer  has  been  delayed,  pending  examination  into  the  case  of 
Geo.  W.  France,  and,  as  before  stated,  I  do  not  think  it  projier  to  gi-aut  a 
pardon  upon  the  mere  request  of  any  number  of  persons,  or  upon  argu- 
ments or  theories  other  than  those  based  uj)on  well-estabUshed  facts.  A 
showing  in  the  nature  of  the  showing  requii-ed  uj^on  a  motion  for  a  new 
trial  should  be  made.  And  upon  notice  to  the  District  Attorney.  In  the 
case  under  consideration  I  do  not  think  there  is  sufficient  cause  shown  for 
executive  interference,  and,  therefore,  the  prayer  of  the  petition  must  be 
denied.  Very  respectfully, 

E. . .  [Democrat],  Governor." 

So  Judge  W .  .  was  still  incompetent  to  properly  present 
my  case.  One  would  think  that  after  all  of  his  experience  in 
the  matter  with  the  other  Governors,  they  would  have  taught 
him  the  way  to  do  such  business.  But  he  knew  that  the  rotten, 
quibbling  excuse  was  a  mere  handfull  of  soft  dirt  thrown  in  the 
face  for  a  blind,  and  that,  do  ivhat  ive  mig'.t,  he  would  always  be 
found  full  of  dirt  to  spit  out,  and  so  he  gives  up  the  job  as 
follows : 

"  WAiiiiA  Walla,  W.  T.,  July  11th,  1887. 
Mr.  Geo.  W.  France. 

Dear  Sir: — I  send  you  the  reply  of  the  Governor,  which,  I  regret,  is 
not  favorable  to  your  release. 

I  do  not  know  the  reason,  but  all  of  the  Governors  seem  to  take  an  ad- 
verse view  of  your  apjDlication.  Now  I  have  done  all  I  can  for  you,  and 
without  fee  or  rew^ard  or  the  expectation  of  any.  Nor  would  I  accept  any- 
thing for  what  I  have  done,  if  offered.  If  I  could  pardon  you,  I  would  do 
so,  because  I  think  you  have  been  ijunished  enough  for  your  offense. 

But  I  am  powerless  to  aid  you  further,  except  to  sympathize  with  you 
which  I  know  is  poor  comfort.     Respectfully  youi-s, 

S.  C.  Wingakd." 


My  Eelease.  421 


The  Governor  wanted  to  go  through  the  motions  of  doing 
something  and  do  nothing. 

The  "arguments  and  theories "  of  my  case  ?t7ere  "based 
upon  well  established  facts,"  and  the  Governor  knew  it,  if  he 
cared  to  knew  it,  and  he  could  not  put  his  finger  on  a  single 
weak  point. 

And  the  showing  was  ten  times  stronger  and  more  complete 
than  is  generally  required  upon  "a  motion  for  a  new  trial,"  and 
this  he  hieiv  also,  if  he  cared  to  know ;  and  the  district  attorney 
loas  notified  in  various  ways. 

But  it  must  be  an  effort  of  one  of  the  gang,  for  a  price,  to 
be  attractive  to  such  ring  lackeys.  This  is  the  fellow  that 
nominated  ex-Governor  Links  for  a  trustee  of  the  insane 
asylum!  which  shows  how  he  would  murder  sutfe  ring  humanity 
to  affiliate  with  his 

"  Slioulcl  i)ale  disease  their  trembling  limbs  invade, 
They  would  call  not,  they  would  expect  not  human  aid." 

"  July  28th. — B . .  called ;  says,  '  the  people  felt  very  sorry 
for  me,  etc.,  but  had  found  that  they  had  no  in/litence  to  redress 
the  wrong,  and  could  do  nothing.'  " 

"August  4th. — Prison  directors  here;  said,  they  'would 
forthwith  recommend  my  release,'  and  afterwards  one  of  them 
told  me  that  *  they  had  done  so.'  I  believe  this  had  never  before 
been  done  in  the  Tei'ritory. 

"  August  8th. — I  asked  the  warden  whether  '  there  is  going 
to  be  any  foolishness  about  me  getting  all  of  my  short  time,'  he 
replied,  '  I  don't  see  hoio  there  can  be,  for  there  is  not  a  single 
scratch  against  your  conduct,  neither  here  nor  at  Seatco.^  " 

' '  Oh,  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave, 
Whene'er  we  practice  to  deceive." 

"  August  9th. — Eeceived  letter  from  M .  .  saying,  '  We  would 
gladly  assist  you  in  any  way  we  could  to  get  you  your  freedom, 
for  you  should  not  have  been  imprisoned  at  all,  and  we  have 
written  several  times  to  the  Governor  in  regard  to  your  case, 
but  he  would  not  even  reply,'  etc." 

"  August  20th. — I  have  been  shown  a  letter  from  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  in  spitting  on  the  petition  for  the  release  of  one  of 
the  innocent  prisoners,  he  virtually  declares  that  the  people 


422  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison, 


should  not  be  permitted  to  interfere  witli  the  work  of  the  gang, 
or  courts,  when  they  are  prostituted  or  err.  He  regards  peti- 
tions of  the  people  as  '  ivorthl&ss,'  and  continues  saying,  '  a  peti- 
tion no  matter  from  hotv  many  2^'^02Jle,  is  not  ordinarily  ground 
for  granting  a  pardon.'  " 

Thus  he  admits  that  the  government  is  not  '  by  the  jjeople 
— for  the  people,'  and  he  continues  :  '  The  people  have  estab- 
lished courts  to  deal  with  such  cases.'  [But  they  reserved  to 
themselves  the  right  op  petition  to  correct  their  abuses,  and  any 
man  who  would  spit  upon  or  nullify  this  right,  is  a  tool  of  the 
gang  and  a  traitor  to  his  country.] 

"And,"  he  continues,  "Executive  officers  should  not  inter- 
fere to  disturb  the  course  of  justice  except  upon  the  very 
strongest  showings." 

[But  it  is  the  course  of  iNJustice  and  iniquity  and  robbery, 
that  the  people  frequently  have  occasion  to  "  disturb  "  and  cor- 
rect. And  what  stronger  showing  could  there  be  than  that  a 
victim  was  positively  and  beyond  dispute  innocent  of  any  crime, 
as  was  done  in  my  case,  and  yet  even  this  was  spurned. 

It  is  false  to  assert  that  the  people  established  these  courts 
as  they  are  in  practice- — robbing  machines  7^un  in  the  interest  of 
the  gang.  Tools  of  the  gang  talk  that  way,  but  nine  of  the  people 
out  often  declare  the  courts  to  be  "a  rotten  fraud." 

If  a  person  will  sign  a  petition  ignorantly  or  wrongly,  so 
will  he  vote,  and  to  petition  should  be  as  effective  as  to  vote. 

Thieves  and  traitors  can  get  votes,  nominations  and  ap- 
pointments to  office,  by  conspiracy,  corruption  and  deceit,  who 
naturally  deny  the  people  the  right  to  effectually  retort,  censure 
and  correct  these  false,  corrujyt  agents,  who  are  supposed  to  be  the 
people's  servants,  not  their  tyrants  and  vampires. 

The  foregoing  case  was  this  :  A  very  peaceable  man  had, 
in  the  defense  of  his  life  and  household,  killed  a  man  who  was 
armed  with  a  razor  and  gun,  and  in  the  act  of  "  cleaning  out  the 
ranch,"  as  he  had  said  he  would  come  and  do.  This  was  so 
plain  and  evident  that  there  was  not  an  effort  made  to  arrest 
him,  or  try  the  case  for  several  years  afterwards,  when  the  main 
witnesses  had  died,  then  his  enemies  (against  the  will  and  judg- 
ment of  the  people,  who  knew  the  case  as  can  be  imagined 
better  than  the  courts  could  know  it  by  their  mode  of  practice) 


My  Eelease.  423 


secured  liis  conviction  and  sentence  of  thirteen  years  in  prison. 
And  even  now,  when  the  victim  has  suffered  near  half  of  this 
age  of  time,  the  outcry  of  the  people  for  his  justice  is  spurned  as 
"  luorthless,''  and  he  is  cruelly  told  that  he  must  so  liorrihly  lan- 
guish and  die  ! 

The  heads  of  tyrants  have  been  paraded  through  the 
streets,  stuck  on  poles,  for  less  tyranny  than  this. 

Now  FOR  A  LITTLE  DEFFEEENT  EXAMPLE :  Afterwards  S .  . 
pleads  guilty  to  burglary,  and  gets  one  year  in  this  pen,  but  says 
"  he  will  not  stay  long,  for  the  Governor  is  almost  obliged  to  par- 
don him."  When  pressed  for  a  reason  why  the  Governor  would 
favor  him  more  than  others,  said  :  his  "father  ivas  a  mason. ''^ 
The  pardon  came  in  tioo  months,  nor  did  they  bother  with  any 
"worthless"  public  petition. 

Oh,  try  to  think  of  the  feelings  of  the  innocent  who  must 
languish !  and  see  to  it,  my  fellow-men,  that  the  sober  second 
thought  of  the  people  shall  be  laio. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  reasons  given  for  granting 
pardons  by  the  Governor  of  Oregon  : 

"Grave  doubts  as  to  guilt." 

Youth  of  tlie  prisoner  and  promise  to  leave  the  State. 

Evidence  that  the  offense  committed  was  entii-ely  unpremeditated. 

Severity  of  sentence. 

Good  conduct  of  prisoner. 

Failing  health. 

Petition  of  persons  and  judicial  officers. 

Pre\-ious  good  conduct  and  good  character. 

Offense  was  committed  in  the  heat  of  passion,  and  under  very  trying, 
provoking  and  aggravating  circumstances. 

Because  conviction  was  made  on  purely  circumstantial  evidence. 

Advanced  age. 

The  Governor  (Hill)  of  New  York  "requested  the  friends  of  the 
prisone7's  to  furnish  him  information  on  six  points — whether  the  prisoners 
were  not  properly  defended,  or  their  trials  were  conducted  im^jroperly  or  un- 
fairly ;  whether  it  is  now  claimed  that  the  prisoners  were  innocent  of  the 
offense  for  which  they  were  convicted  ;  whether,  if  they  were  guilty,  they 
are  now  penitent  and  are  AvdUing  to  cease  the  commission  of  such  offenses; 
what  mitigating  circumstances  are  claimed  to  exist  which  call  for  or  war- 
rant executive  clemency  ;  whether  the  sentences  are  held  to  have  been  too 
severe  for  the  offenses  charged  ;  and  whether  anything  has  occurred  since 
their  trials  to  change  the  circumstances  of  their  cases. " 

[They  were  pardoned.  1 


424  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

None  of  the  four  blackleg  secret  ring  Governors  of  Wash- 
ington would  honestly  and  openly  give  out  a  single  point,  and 
they  ignored  and  spurned  every  point  and  all  the  rk\sons 
deemed  good  enough  for  Oregon  and  New  York. 

And  I  proved  that   the   courts  were  closed   against  the 
prisoners,  to  be  opened  only  on  the  delivery  to  the  court  gang 
of  various  big  sums  of  gold,  that  they  have  not !     These  facts 
should  awaken  the  most  careless  understanding. 
"  Strike  if  you  icill  but  It  ear  !  " 

"  September  1 7th. — Several  preachers  visited  the  prison ; 
one  of  them  '  hoped  that  I  had  repented  and  reformed.' 

*  No,  Sir !  I  have  done  nothing  for  which  I  should  repent 
or  reform  according  to  the  golden  rule — which  is  my  creed — 
nor  of  the  laws  of  Moses,  or  that  of  our  own  or  any  other  coun- 
try on  the  face  of  the  earth  ! ' 

"But,"  said  he,  " I  suppose  you  were  coni;icfefZ,  and  must 
therefore  be  guilty  of  crime  ?  " 

*  Now,  this  shows  your  child-like  ignorance  of  men,  and  the 
criminal  jugglery  of  the  courts,  which  you  should  learn,  and 
then  work  to  reform  the  real  criminals  instead  of  their  victims. 
I  was  shanghaied,  never  convicted  at  all,  and  I  could  find  no  re- 
course. Because  men  have  been  howled  down  by  the  gang 
and  railroaded  through  the  courts  in  charge  and  control  of 
blackleg  shysters  — in  whom  victims  are  required  to  trust— and 
are  thus  thrown  into  prison,  is  really  not  reliable  proof  that 
they  are  criminals  ;  twenty  per  cent,  of  these  prisoners  are 
really  no  more  guilty  of  crime  than  you  are — supposing  you  to 
be  innocent ;  and  take  them  all  together,  they  are  no  more 
criminal  at  heart  or  brain  than  the  first  100  men  you  see  on  the 
outside.  The  worst  criminals  of  all  belong  to  the  gang,  and 
thus  get  into  q^ffioe  instead  of  into  prison.' 

"  But,"  said  he,  "  it  is  a  horrible  thing  to  take  human  life !  " 

*  Yes,  indeed,  said  I,  '  but  I  prevented  that,  in  my  case,  by 
hilling  the  robber  assassin — even  one  of  the  gang — thus  sa\'ing 
my  life  !  only,  however,  to  be  murdered  and  ravaged  by  the 
devil's  brethren  in  office  and  out,  who  prostitute  the  courts  and 
government  for  the  purpose;  but  I  expect  no  sympathy  or  help 
from  you,  sir,  or  you  would  have  been  preaching  against  such 
crimes  and  criminals,  and  if  you  have  no  concern  as  to  my  wel- 


My  Release.  425 


fare  in  this  ivorld,  certainly  you  have  none  as  to  the  next ;  there  ! 
is  Father  B .  . ,  who  was  my  next  neighbor,  he  knows  me  and  my 
trouble  well,  and  the  fight ;  see  what  he  says  about  it  ?  Mr. 
B.  .,  was  I  to  blame  for  anything  I  did  as  to  my  trouble  or  the 
fight?' 

"  Jes  /  you  are  to  blame  for  one  thing,  but  for  one  thing  only.'' 

'Well?     MVhat  IB  that r 

"Because  you  did  not  kill  the  man  before  you  did;  for  you 
to  let  him  follow  you  around  the  field — the  way  he  did — and 
wait  to  look  into  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  before  you  defended 
your  life  loas  foolhardy  ;  that  is  all  you  are  to  blame  for,  for  if 
L .  .  had  not  struck  the  gun  down  the  instant  he  did,  you  would 
have  been  killed."     [Two  or  three  preachers  in  unison.] 

"  Of  course,  under  such  circumstances  one  is  very  justifi- 
able to  kill  another." 

But  they  should  have  sought  out  the  truth  before,  and 
seized  upon  every  opportunity  to  proclaim  it  to  the  people,  it 
being  a  good  but  persecuted  cause  that  would  bear  the  scrutiny 
of  light;  it  should  not  have  been  allowed  to  be  hidden  while 
even  one  victim  was  languishing  for  the  right. 

"  Show  that  thou  hast  not  hved  in  vain, 
With  life  and  genius  cursed." 

I  recently  said  to  a  phrenologist  that  "  if  he  would  visit  a 
prison  and  examine  the  heads  of  the  prisoners,  he  would  find 
them  to  be  an  aveTage  lot  of  men  mentally  and  morally."  He 
replied  that  "  he  had  done  so,  and/owwcZ  this  to  be  true." 

' '  /  lorite  not  these  things  to  cause  you  to  hate  mankind,  hut  as  my  sons 
to  warn  you." — St  Paul 

"October  4th. — Received  a  note  and  a  bundle  of  papers  from  a  Mrs. 
Rev.  M. . . . ,  saying  that  my  children  had  once  attended  her  school  and  were 
her  friends,  and  she  thus  manifests  tome  a  thoughtful  and  kindly  feeling. " 

May  she  and  all  others,  who  have  kindly  remembered  and 
befriended  me  while  in  prison,  hioiv,  that  they  are  held  very 
dear  to  me,  and  ever  cherished  in  my  mind  and  heart  of  hearts, 
and  that  they  did  not  do  so  in  vain. 

"Oh  !  could  the  muse  some  lasting  wreath  entwine, 
In  stronger  colors  bid  their  virtues  shine  ! " 

"Bleak  are  our  shores  with  the  blasts  of  December, 


426  Extracts  from  Diary  Kept  in  Prison. 

Fettered  and  chill  is  the  rivulet's  flow; 
Throbbing  and  ivarvi  are  the  hearts  that  remember 
Who  was  our  friend,  when  the  icorld  was  otir/oe." 

Dr.  Holmes. 

"  Augiist  10th,  1887. — Released  from  prison  ;    getting  ten 
days  more  than  my  full  short  time  '  for  uniformly  good  hehavior.' " 

' '  The  hopes  that  rouiid  my  heart  had  clung,  ere  those  I  loved  were  gone. 
Had  vanished  as  the  sparkling  frost  beneath  the  noon-tide  sun 
Melts  from  some  branching  tree,  with  its  feathery  gems  of  light. 
And  leaves  it  dark  and  desolate,  to  tell  of  winter's  blight. 

I  feared  the  morn — I  feared  to  seek  my  lo7ig,  long-icishedfor  home. 
As  with  a  sad  foreboding  dread  of  misery  to  come." 

A  severed  and  a  sorrowing  thing,  I  had  come  back  alone. 

One  wandering  bird  unto  the  nest,  from  which  a  brood  hadfloicn." 

"  Oh,  for  a  tongue  to  curse  the  slaves, 

"Whose  treason,  Hke  a  deadly  blight, 

Comes  o'er  the  counsels  of  the  brave 

And  blasts  them  in  their  hour  of  might ! 

May  hfe's  unblessed  cuj)  for  them 

Be  drugg'd  with  treacheries  to  the  biim. 

With  hopes  that  but  allure  to  fly. 

With  joys  that  vanish,  while  they  sip. 

Like  Dead-Sea  fruits,  that  tempt  the  eye. 

But  turn  to  ashes  on  the  lijis  ! 

Theu'  country's  curse,  their  children's  shame, 

Outcast  of  virtue,  peace  and  fame, 

May  they,  at  last,  with  Hps  of  flame 

On  the  jDarch'd  desert  thirsting  die. — ■ 

While  lakes  that  shone  in  mockery  nigh 

Are  fading  oft,  untouch'd,  untasted. 

Like  the  once  glorious  hopes  they  blasted! 

And,  when  from  earth  their  si^irits  fly. 

Just  God,  let  the  damn'd  ones  dwell 

Full  in  the  sight  of  Paradise, 

Beholding  heaven  and  feeHng  hell !" — Moore. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Tbagedies. — Land  jumping,  etc. — Experiences  of  other  men. — More  of 
real  life  and  death,  in  the  North-west. — Examples  of  what  was  trans- 
piring with  other  people  while  and  since  I  was  languishing  in  prison 
for  defending  my  life  and  home  against  the  gang. — Ali.  of  these 

WEKE    EITHER     ACQUITTED     OF    ANY     CRIME,    OR   NOT   EVEN   INDICTED   OR 

TROUBLED — THE  GiiARiNG  CONTRAST! — " Uneasj  Settlers. "—" A  pro- 
tective association." — "Land  Jumping." — "Put-up  jobs." — "  Homes 
imperiled. " — "  Shooting  aftair. " — "  Vigilantes. " — "  Murderous  assault 
by  a  band  of  midnight  assassins." — "Highhanded."- — "Lynching." 
"People  arming." — "Dangerous  man." — "Land  troubles." — "A 
tramp  boom. " — Killed  for  robbing  sluice  boxes. — Laying  in  wait  to 
kill. — Filled  with  shot. — Killing  three  men  for  a  few  dollars,  etc. — 
From  the  Press. 


"U: 


NEASY  Settlers. — Pursuant  to  a  call,  the  citizens  of  the  Western 
part  of  Garfield  County,  W.  T.,  and  some  from  Columbia  County,  met  at 
Dry  Hollow  school  house  for  the  purf)ose  of  organizing  a  protective  asso- 
ciation. There  was  much  interest  taken  in  the  matter.  It  was  agreed 
that  the  long  continued  manipulation  through  [Masonic]  rings  and  the  in- 
fluence of  money  by  corporated  monopohes,  to  secure  legislation  for  their 
own  special  benefit  and  to  the  detriment  of  the  peojjle  at  large,  had  become 
a  power  which  threatened  the  destruction  of  the  best  interests  of  the 
country,  and  that,  unless  substantial  reform  was  instituted,  absolute 
sendtude  must  be  endured.  The  settlers  show  a  determination  to 
stand  firm  to  their  cause  [against  the  gang  to  rob  them  of  their 
homes],  that  they  settled  in  good  faith  and  had  always  tried  to  be  law- 
abiding  citizens;  that,  so  far  as  they  knew,  they  were  entitled  to  all  the 
rights  of  citizens;  that  the  settlers  propose  to  remain  settled.  Temi^orary 
officers  were  elected,  the  necessary  committees  were  appointed  to  arrange 
constitution  and  by-laws,  and  report  the  names  of  charter  members." 

"Land  Jumping. — A  man  jumjped  Mr.  H.  ..'s  claim  near  Mayview 
last  week.  He  pitched  his  tent  in  the  center  of  the  waving  grain  and  told 
the  owner,  if  he  did  not  kick  up  a  fuss,  he  might  have  his  grain  and  the 
ground  on  which  the  house  stood.  At  last  accounts  the  Jumper  was 
dumi^ed,  tent  and  all,  into  the  road  by  the  indignant  neighbors,  and  a 
specific  time  given  him,  in  which  to  make  himself  scarce. "  [The  court 
gang  would  have  charged  all  the  place  was  worth  to  settle  it,  and,  if  the 
Jumper  was  a  Mason  or  Odd  Fellow,  given  him  the  place  besides.] 

' '  Considerable  f eeUng  is  manifested  by  many  of  our  farmers,  who 
have  settled  upon  Yforfeited]  railroad  land  in  this  vicinity,  regarding  the 
extremely  high  figure  at  which  such  lands  are  held  and  the  short  time  given 
to  settlers  by  the  company  [that  hud  forfeited  it]  in  which  to  make  their 

(427) 


428  Keal  Life  in  the  North-West. 

first  payments.  A  number  of  petitions  have  been  sent  to  Washington,  and 
several  meetings  have  been  held  in  Whitman  and  Columbia  counties,  to 
de\'ise  means  for  self-protection.  Several  solid  farmers  were  overheard  on 
the  streets,  expressing  their  views  regarding  "Jumpers"  who  intended  to 
take  advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  money,  and  jump  such  land  as  the  claim- 
ant could  not  pay  \ip  on,  reaping  the  benefit  of  the  claimant's  years  of 
hard  labor  in  improving  the  jilaces.  From  the  expressive  way  in  which 
their  lijjs  came  together,  and  the  gleam  of  lire  which  flashed  from  their 
eyes,  knowing  them  to  be  some  of  our  most  respectable  aud  law-abiding 
citizens,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  extremely  unhealthy 
for  any  land  shark  to  make  such  an  attemj)t.  God  help  the  man  or  men 
who  try  to  rob  them  of  their  homes." 

[Hoiu  about  blacJdeg  Governors  and  the  gang  that  stand  in 
with  and  endorse  the  robbers  ?] 

"Mr.  Editor. — I  came  into  your  midst  to  make  my  home  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  few  years  Pro\idence  may  have  alloted  to  me,  and  settled 
on  a  pre-emption  claim.  Shortly  after  one  J.  L.  settled  on  railroad  land  ad- 
joining and  put  his  house  only  a  few  yards  from  my  line,  and  took  parti- 
cular care  to  find  out  how  I  held  the  land,  how  long  I  had  been  on  the 
land,  and  if  I  had  any  family  or  relatives  hving  in  this  country.  After- 
wards T.  E.  asked  me,  if  I  had  hauled  a  quantity  of  wheat  out  of  his  bam. 
Denying  the  same,  he  told  me  that  a  man  in  J.  L.  's  employ  had  told  him 
he  had  seen  me  going  in  with  a  two-horse  wagon  and  coming  out  loaded 

with  wheat  sacks If  J.  L.  and  Co.  had  sueceeded,   by  such  means, 

to  send  me  to  States  prison,  J.  L.  would  have  moved  his  house  over  the 
Kne  and  taken  my  pre-emiation.  Not  succeeding  in  this,  he  abandoned 
the  land.  Subsequently  he  told  me,  that  he  wanted  my  timber  culture 
claim,  and  that  I  could  go  into  his  pasture  and  select  any  two  horses  out  of 
his  baud  for  the  same.  Upon  my  refusing  to  make  any  such  trade,  he  told 
me  that  if  he  could  not  get  the  land  from  me  by  fair  means,  that  he  would 
get  it  anyway,  for  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  have  it.  And,  I  beheve,  he 
would  have  taken  it,  if  he  had  not  some  resjiect  for  shooting  irons 

A  few  words  about  Lynch  law. — Congress  has  enacted  laws  by  which 
individuals  may  get  homes,  provided  they  locate  on  aud  cultivate  the  land. 
Shall  we  be  bound  to  conform  to  aud  respect  those  laws,  or  shall  we  go  at 
the  dark  of  night  and  take  out  a  person  who  has  availed  himself  of  the 
law,  and  hang  him  up  to  a  tree  until  Ufe  is  extinct  ? 

[If  you  belong  to  a  "  charitable  "  (?)  brotherliood,  you  may 
with  impunity  hang  him  up.] 

In  charity  to  those  fifteen  men  who,  in  the  dead  hours  of  night,  called 
that  man  out,  I  will  say,  I  hope  by  this  time  they  have  abandoned  their 
unlawful  intentions.  F.  E.  L. " 

"  Great  indignation  and  uneasiness  is  everywhere  manifest. 
Settlers  who  feel  that  their  homes  are  imperiled,  are  flocking  to 


Eeal  Life  in  the  North-TV'est.  429 

town  and  discussing  various  means  of  protecting  their  rights, 
ajid  some  swear,  they  will  hang  or  shoot  the  first  man  or  land 
shark  who  tries  to  jump  their  lands." 

[No  home-builder  has  any  confidence  in  the  secret,  ring-ridden 
courts.] 

"  Shooting  affair. — S. . .  met  H. . .  and  shot  liim  in  the  head,  which  so 
paralyzed  him  that  he  could  scarcely  speak.  The  skull  was  broken  iu 
fragments  to  the  extent  of  over  one  inch  square.  Several  fragments  of 
bone  and  the  bullet — ^in  two  pieces — were  extracted;  persons  injured  to 
that  extent  very  rarely  recover.  [But  he  did.]  H. . .  had  been  waited 
u^jon  and  ordered  to  leave  the  vicinity,  because  he  simply  desired  to  con- 
test the  rights  of  a  piece  of  land." 

[S. . .  was  acquitted  (iu  Garfield  County.] 

"  Vigilantes. — Friday  night  about  twenty  masked  men  gathered  on  the 
road  leading  towards  H. . .  's  house  (the  victim  of  the  H. . .  S. . .  tragedy), 
and,  meeting  with  the  doctors  in  attendance  ujjon  the  wounded  man,  gave 
them  a  paper  for  H. . .  's  brother  to  sign.  Said  document  was  in  eflfect, 
that  H. . .  would  leave  the  country  within  forty-eight  hours,  or  suflfer  the 
consequences.  [He  left.  ]  While  the  action  is  not  to  be  excused,  there  is 
a  lesson  which  may  well  be  taken  home.  It  has  become  too  common  for 
trials  to  be  a  travesty  on  justice  and  little  better  than  a  farce,  and  it  is 
scarcely  to  be  wondered  at,  that  an  indignant  community  should  lose 
patience  and  take  the  law  into  its  own  hands.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
affair  will  serve  as  a  lesson  to  law-makers  [the  gang] ,  so  that  they  will  so 
frame  statutes  that  there  will  be  more  promptness  and  ;jurety  in  jiunishing 
land  grabbers."     [Their*  brethren.] 

"  Should  cea.^e. — We  mean  the  unlawful  acts  of  threatening  n_en  to 
leave  the  community  before  they  have  been  found  guilty  of  crime,  for 
which  they  cannot  be  made  to  pay  the  penalty  according  to  law,  on  ac- 
count of  Avincing  the  breaking  of  law  by  the  constituted  authorities 

Let  such  matters  go  before  the  proper  tribunal  [the  court  gang]  for  settle- 
ment [at  their  piice  of  a  big  mortgage] .  If  the  land  in  disjjute  was  not 
vacant  according  to  law,  H. . .  could  not  hold  it  as  against  the  claim  of  a 
booiafide  settler. " 

[That  would  depend  on  his  influence  at  court,  and  it  might 
take  nine  years  and  a  big  mortgage  to  find  out.  And  the  mid- 
night "  charitable  "  (?)  gangs  are  running  men  (who  are  object- 
ionable to  them),  out  of  the  country  nearly  every  day,  and  do 
so  with  impunity !] 

"Trouble  is  being  experienced  between  mill  owners  and  settlers  along 
M.  G.  and  Y.  creeks.  The  millers  jilaced  two  armed  men  at  the  forks 
"with  instructions  to  allow  no  one  to  interfere  with  the  flow  of  the  water." 

"  M. . .  is  figuring  in  the  courts  as  a  much  abused  and  injured  man. 


430  Eeal  Life  in  the  North-West. 

He  claims  that  last  Sunday  night,  between  the  hours  of  one  and  two, 
twelve  or  fifteen  armed  and  masked  men  apj^eared  at  his  residence  and 
placed  a  rope  around  his  son's  neck  and  dragged  him  out  doors,  choldng 
him  considerably.  M.  . .  and  his  wife  were  sleejiing  on  their  pre-emption 
claim,  about  300  yards  distant,  and  Mrs.  M. .  . ,  alarmed  at  the  cries  of  her 
boy,  hastened  to  the  house.  Upon  arri\-ing  there,  she  was  seized  and 
thrown  dowTi,  dragged  around,  etc.,  as  was  her  husband  also,  as  soon  as 
he  arrived  upon  the  scene. 

M. . .  claims  that  the  outrage  was  perjsetrated  by  a  neighbor,  whose 
land  he  jumped,  aided  by  friends. 

There  are  many  who  doubt  the  entii-e  stoiy;  and  the  wounds  are  such 
as  might  have  been  caused  by  a  little  friendly  discussion  "  wid  fists,"  all 
among  themselves." 

[It  transpired  tliat  tlie  chief  of  the  mob  was  a  Mason  and 
that  it  was  intended  to  kill  M. .  .  (who  was  unknown  to  the 
chief  as  a  brother  in  his  gang),  but  on  the  verge  of  his  death  he 
(M. ..)  made  his  relation  known  with  a  sign  to  the  Grand 
Worthy  Chief,  who  forthwith  gave  orders  to  quit,  and  they  did. 
M. . .  got  the  land  also.     It  being  just  so  in  the  courts,  too. 

The  following  is  how  the  Masonic  press  howled,  when  they 
found  it  was  a  brother.] 

"MuBDEROUS  Assault.— Last  Sunday  morning  at  about  one 
o'clock,  a  band  of  midnight  assassins  assaulted  the  J.  M . . 
family  in  this  [Garfield]  county.  We  will  not  give  the  names 
of  the  parties  this  week,  as  they  are  not  all  caught  yet.  They 
knocked  Mrs.  M  .  down  and  bruised  her,  choked  che  old  man  and 
hit  him  a  blow  with  the  butt  of  a  gun.  The  bloody  parties  also 
stole  a  gun  and  pistol  from  the  house.  The  assassins  were 
partly  disguised  when  they  did  their  bloody  deed.  Mr.  M .  .  's 
sons  were  also  assaulted  about  the  same  time  and  place  as  that 
made  on  their  father  and  mother.  Whoever  would  be  guilty  of 
such  work  is  meaner  than  a  highwayman.  There  is  law 
in  this  country  for  such  men  as  M .  .  if  any  have  a  grievance 
against  him  and  his  family.  [Yes,  indeed,  there  is  law /or  such 
men,  but  none  that  will  work  against  them.]  We  hope  the 
parties  will  get  the  full  extent  of  the  law  in  this  case.  The 
proof  is  too  overwhelming  to  fight  the  case  in  any  court  with 
hope  of  success." 

[When  outsiders  loere  the  victims  then  the  ring  press  only 
"  hoped  that  the  affair  [?]  would  serve  as  a  lesson  to  law- 
makers," and  no  attempts  were  made  to  arrest  the  mob. 


Eeal  Life  in  the  North- West.  431 

Therefore,  tliis  mob  demanded  tlie  same  immunity  as  ac- 
corded to  the  other  brethren,  as  follows :] 

"High  Handed. — We  have  lieard  from  good  arithority  that  some  of 
the  parties  who  were  engaged  in  the  M . .  attack  joined  with  others,  held  a 
meeting  and  j^assed  resolutions  of  condemnation  npon  several  persons  who 
were  officially  engaged  in  the  prosecution.  That  there  were  some  forty 
persons  present,  and  that  one  county  officer  was  voted  to  be  jjut  out  of  the 
way  by  a  vote  of  34  to  6,  and  that  each  one  of  the  band  was  sworn  to 
secrecy." 

"The  excitement  consequent  upon  the  commiting  of  theM..  crime 
having  mostly  subsided,  the  people  of  this  community  were  again  startled 
by  the  report  that  plans  were  being  made  for  the  assassination  of  Justice 
O. .  and  the  principal  witnesses  for  the  prosecution." 

"Those  [masonic]  fellows  who  hold  secret  meetings  and  take  votes  to 
put  O . . ,  r . . ,  H . .  and  S . .  to  death,  had  better  cease  such  work  ;  they 
are  too  cowardly  to  execute  their  plans  unless  they  have  greatly  the  advan- 
tage. If  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  injure  either  of  these  pai-ties 
thi-eatened,  there  would  be  a  general  uprising,  and  blot  the  whole  lot  out 
of  existence  at  once.  There  is  a  move  on  foot  to  set  fire  to  the  house  in 
which  they  meet  and  shoot  every  one  dead  that  might  make  an  attempt  to 
leap  from  the  flames,  which  would  only  inflict  a  modicum  of  the  pain  that 
awaits  them  in  the  flames  in  the  regions  of  those  whose  deeds  consign  them 
to  the  hissing  flames  of  eternal  perdition  in  the  fiery  regions  of  the 
damned." 

[Just  so,  as  far  as  it  goes  ;  but  why  howl  against,  burn  and 
shoot  down  the  little  loose  side  show-sprig  of  the  devil,  while 
the  old-midnight-lurking,  intriguing  devil  himself,  with  his 
army  of  Danites,  arrayed  for  mutual  slaughter  and  havoc  and 
cruelty,  are  secure. 

"  With  pride  in  their  port,  defiance  in  their  eye, 

We  see  the  secret  lurking  lords  of  human  kind  pass  by." 

Though  the  court  machinery  is  worked  in  "  mystery,"  it 
appeared  that  this  sprig  of  its  father  made  its  relationship  felt 
so  effectively  that  the  trials  (?)  were  a  notorious  farce  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  people  and  profit  to  the  gang,  enlarged  by  secret  fines 
of  some  of  the  accused.] 

"  Don't  do  it — We  heard  strong  hints  of  lynching  IVIr.  J.  B . . 
for  the  manner  he  is  conducting  himself  as  an  employee  of  the 
railroad  company  in  the  sale  of  lieu  lands." 

"  There  seems  to  be  an  epidemic  wave  of  madness  moving 
over  the  country.  IMurder  and  theft,  with  other  crimes  and 
vices,  are  walking  abroad  at  noonday.     All  this  boldness  in 


432  Keal  Life  in  the  North-West. 

crime  grows  out  of  the  loose  manner  in  whicli  the  penalties  of 
law  are  ministered  by  our  courts,  [and  the  endorsing  of  the 
blackest  crime  by  blackleg  Governors].  We  beseech  the  courts 
and  ofl&cers  of  this  district  to  do  their  duty,  regardless  of  who 
the  violators  of  law  may  be  that  shall  suffer  the  just  penalty  of 
their  crimes." 

"  It  has  come  to  a  pretty  pass  that  the  honest  men  of  the 
country  have  to  arm  themselves  against  the  big,  ugly,  mean, 
sneaking  thieves  [of  the  gang]  that  are  found  here  and  there," 
[because  the  courts  and  Governors  are  their  friends,  dead  or 
alive]. 

"  It  has  gone  abroad  that  Garfield  county  has  the  most  criminals  of 
any  county  in  the  Territory.  The  crime  calendar  shows  this  to  be  the 
case." 

[But  the  convictions  did  not  show  it,  as  the  gang  locbs  in  ccm- 
trol,  and  declared  good  evil,  and  evil  good.] 

^'  A  just  rebuke. — I  have  noticed  an  article  in  the  Journal  entitled  "A 
dangerous  man  to  have  around,"  directed  at  me.  As  I  am  to  be  tried  on  a 
serious  charge,  and  as  I  believe  the  article  directed  at  me  was  Avritten  -ndth 
mahcious  intent,  I  hope  you  will  allow  me  space  to  contradict  the  state- 
ments made."  [As  a  general  thing,  in  the  northwest  a  victim  of  the  gang 
cannot  get  a  hearing  in  the  press,  which  is  generally  collared  and  linked 
together  to  howl  at  and  strike  those  that  cannot  strike  back,  and  are  suf- 
fering in  the  darkness  of  pain  and  sorrow.] . ..."  I  have  no  objections  to 
being  examined  as  to  my  lunacy,  pro\ided  the  Journal  editor  is  put  through 
the  same  ordeal,  the  insane  man  to  be  committed  to  the  asylum,  and  the 
other  to  be  given  his  freedom.     County  Jail,  F.  L . . " 

' '  Mr.  L . .  has  certainly  cause  to  complain  at  having  his  case  tried  in 
a  newspaper  [not  so,  if  he  is  given  an  equal  show  to  be  heard,  and  which 
should  be  compelled  by  law.']  No  true  and  honorable  journalist  will  attempt 
to  create  unfavorable  opinion  against  a  prisoner  previous  even  to  a  j^re- 
liminary  examination."  [But  this  is  the  general  rule  as  against  an  out- 
sider], "The  reason  for  such  a  course  is  that  L.  .'s  incarceration  in  the 
asylum  or  penitentiary,  or  execution,  would  end  a  long  protracted  attempt 
at  stealing  an  honest  settler's  home. " 

"  It  is  said  that  there  is  a  determination  among  certain  persons  to  do 
L. .  great  bodily  harm  should  he  be  released  on  bail,  or  acquitted." 

"After  driving  L. .  crazy  by  attempting  to  jump  his  ranch,  the  land 
sharks  are  now  trying  to  prejudice  pubHc  opinion  against  him  in  their 
malicious  sheet." 

"It  appears  that  L..  claims  some  land  which  the  gang  wish  to  get 
hold  of,  hence  their  anxiety  to  hang  him  or  send  him  to  the  lunatic 
asylum." 


Keal  Life  in  the  North- West.  433 

^^  Land  Trouble. — Mrs.  M. .  swore  to  a  complaint  charging  "W. ,  H.,  E., 
M.  and  E.  witli  an  assault  with  deadly  weapons.  It  seems  that  the  M . .  s 
have  located  on  some  land  over  which  there  is  a  dispute  before  the  land 
office.  The  K . .  s  have  been  endeavoring  to  get  control  of  this  land,  and 
last  evening  repau'ed  to  M . .  's  house  accompanied  by  two  or  three  others, 
and  attemjjted  to  remove  some  fence  jDosts,  when  a  son  of  M . .  's,  aged 
about  sixteen,  ordered  them  to  stop.  Upon  this  one  of  the  R.  .s  pulled  a 
l^istol,  and  presented  it  to  the  head  of  the  boy.  His  mother  now  apjjeared 
and  grabbed  R . .  by  the  whiskers  to  stoi?  him  from  shooting,  when  the 
other  brother  drew  his  pistol  and  i^resented  it  to  the  woman's  head." 


"Rev.  "W. .  jumped  a  land  claim  some  time  since,  and  started  a  man 
to  work  plowing  it  uj),  but  the  neighbors  congregated  one  night  this  week, 
fenced  the  claim  for  the  original  claimant  and  jjlaced  the  jumjier's  plow 
outside  the  fence." 

"The  jury  found  K. .  guilty  of  murder  in  the  fii'st  degree.  Hanging 
is  too  easy  a  death  for  a  fellow  who  would  kill  a  man  for  his  homestead." 
[Yet  when  he  is  linked  to  the  gang,  the  courts  and  Governors  endorse  his 
conduct  and  stab  the  homesteader.] 

"  The  W.  T.  Press  keeps  the  following  notice  printed  in 
big,  black  letters  at  the  head  of  its  local  column :  '  Owing  to 
the  presence  of  burglars  in  our  midst,  our  citizens  are  warned 
to  have  their  firearms  ready  to  give  these  midnight  marauders 
a  warm  reception  when  they  come  around.'  [But  why  not  in- 
clude other  secret  midnight  thieves,  the  more  refined  and  expert 
rohhers.  *  Whether  they  had  emerged  from  the  mire  of  indi- 
gence, or  crept  from  the  bed  of  debauchery.' 

"You  take  my  house  when  you  take  the  proj)  that  doth  sustain  my 
house  ;  you  take  my  life  when  you  take  the  means  whereby  I  hve. "] 

"A  Tram})  Boomy — [The  refined  and  expert  gentry  had 
been  "booming  the  country  "  to  renew  their  flock  of  immigrants 
from  the  States,  to  fleece,  and  this  is  the  kind  of  a  go-by  the 
victims  get  when  shorn.]  " 

' '  Eastern  Washington  is  having  a  tramp  boom,  and  it  requires,  in 
houses  along  the  main  roads,  at  least  one  person  to  attend  to  the  calls  of 
tramps,  and  an  extra  baking  of  bread,  etc. ,  to  furnish  these  vagabonds 
'  something  to  eat. '  They  should  be  remorselessly  shut  off,  one  and  all, 
and  serve  all  alike,  adding  the  presentation  of  a  shot-gun  to  emphasize  the 
order  to  '  git, '  and  give  them  five  minutes  to  travel  beyond  your  farm. " 

[Provided  they  cannot  give  a  pagan  mystic  sign,  that  is  known  to  you. 
28 


434  Real  Life  in  the  Nokth-West. 

The  editor  of  the  foregoing  belongs  to  a  "  mystic  "  charitable  (?)  order,  and 
therein  is  the  measure  of  his  charity  !] 


"The  lime  quarries  there  have  mostly  been  covered  by  settlers  under 
the  homestead,  pre-emistion  and  other  land  laws,  and  have  been  -worked 
for  years.  Recently  several  of  the  quan-ies  have  been  jumped  by  those 
who  claim  a  right  to  acquire  them  under  the  mineral  laws.  Of  course, 
this  has  caused  bitter  feeling  among  the  original  holders,  who  have  banded 
themselves  together  for  forcible  resistance  against  any  attempt  to  oust 
them.  They  openly  threaten  to  shoot  the  first  man  who  attempts  to  take 
possession  of  any  quarry,  and  public  sentiment  will  sustain  them,  should  they 
thus  take  the  law  into  their  oivn  hands." 

[And  SO  would  the  courts  and  Governors,  if  the  Jumper 
was  an  outsider.  But  even  if  the  Jumper  had  no  shadow  of 
any  legal  or  just  claim,  and  was  shooting  his  way  through,  to 
rob  and  ravage,  and  was  thus  killed  by  one  outside  of  the  gang, 
and  you,  sir,  discovered  in  the  rank,  festered  remains  a  pagan 
"  mystic  "  brother,  oh,  how  you  would  intrigue  and  transform 
and  howl  the  killing  through  the  land  and  courts,  with  curses 
loud  and  deep —  ''A  holy  horror,  cold-blooded  murder,  terrible  as 
hell/"] 

•X-  * 

[When  one  of  the  gang  commits  an  unprovoked,  cold-blood- 
ed murder,  it  comes  out  about  like  this,  as  per  example  :] 

"  G.  I. . .,  Esq.,  came  in  on  Tuesday's  train.  The  trial  for  the  shoot- 
ing of  C. . .  by  Mr.  I. . .  resulted  in  his  being  acquitted  by  the  Jury.  We 
understand  that  the  Jury  stood  eleven  for  acquittal  and  one  for  con-vdction. 

It  appeared  from  the  evidence  that  C. . .  was  "a  bad  man  from  Bodie" 
and  had  threatened  to  kill  I. . .  We  are  glad  to  see  Mr.  I. . .  in  our  city,  a 
free  man  in  person,  and  his  reputation  cleared."  [He  belonged  to  the 
court  Masonic  gang.] 

The  3fasonic  Press  came  out  in  an  extra,  stating  that  "  the 
verdict  gives  general  satisfaction,"  etc.  "  This  aroused  the  in- 
dignation of  the  citizens,  and  without  delay  a  mass  meeting 
was  held  and  the  following  resolutions  passed  : " 

''  Resolved,  that  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  the  shooting  of  our 
late  fellow-citizen  C. . .  was  unjustifiable. 

Resolved,  that  the  statement  made  in  the  [Masonic]  press,  that  the 
verdict  rendered  in  the  case  versus  I...  andT. ..,  'that  the  same  gave 


Eeal  Life  in  the  Noeth-West.  435 

general  satisfaction'  to  this  community,  is  untrue  in  fact  and  a  libel  upoa 
the  law-abiding  citizens. 

Resolved,  that  the  indecent  manifestations  of  those  [midnight  gentry], 
who  had  been  turned  loose  by  a  [packed]  Jury,  but  not  acquitted,  in  hold- 
ing a  saturnalia  over  their  victim's  dead  body,  and  crowning  their  crime  in 
unlimited  champagne,  merits  the  direst  condemnation  of  all  law-abiding 
citizens. 

Resolved,  that  we  pledge  our  lives,  our  fortunes  and  our  sacred  honor, 
to  stand  by  each  other  in  every  honest  endeavor  to  enforce  the  laws  of  our 
country,  and  to  this  end  we  vaW  retain  our  organization  and  perfect  the 
same  from  this  day  on  until  the  criminal  classes  of  this  county  are  punish- 
ed to  the  extent  of  the  law. 

On  motion  a  committee  of  twenty-five,  to  be  known  as  a  '  Committee 
of  PubHc  Safety,'  was  selected  by  t^e  President,  and  notice  of  their  ap- 
pointment will  be  given  them  by  the  Secretary." 

[And  then  innocent  outsiders  are  made  dire  "  examples  " 
of,  without  recourse,  "  because  the  people  clamor !  "  while 
the  real  criminals  of  the  gang,  through  mystic  intrigue,  are  not 
even  indicted ! 

Any  one  who  asserts  that  "  we  have  a  good  judiciary,"  is  a 
liar  and  a  thief.] 

"  If  anything  further  were  needed  to  bring  contempt  upon 
the  judicial  system,  it  is  afforded  in  the  recent  acquittal  after  a 
dastardly  assassination." 

"  A  deliberate  and  cold-blooded  murder,  and  a  jury  has 
[been  packed  to]  pronounce  him  not  guilty.  Better  abolish  the 
system  [of  control  by  the  gang],  and  let  every  man  defend 
himself." 

" was  acquitted,  which  shows  that  the  court  is  a  place 

wherein  injustice  is  done." 


"  The  only  safeguard  our  citizens  have  against  burglars  is,  to  dig  up 
the  old  smooth-bore,  load  her  with  powder  and  shot,  and  lay  for  Mr. 
burglar." 

[But  when  you  recognize  in  the  remains  of  Mr.  burglar  a 
linked  brother,  you  declare  what  a  "horrible,  frightful  thing  it  is 
to  take  human  life  !  "     Howl  bloody  murder  /    Endorse  the  rob- 


OF  THE 

TTrjT-KTxr-ocT'-r-v 


436  Real  Life  in  the  Nouth-West. 

ber  ;  declare  the  courts  to  be  a  place  of  justice ;  and  then  com- 
plete the  robber's  job  against  "  our  citizen," — picnicing  in  the 
spoils  and  sucking  his  heart's  blood  !] 


"  We  learn  that  one  C. . .  's  house  was  blown  up  with  jjowder  one  day 
last  week.  It  seems  that  C. . .  has  jumped  a  widow  woman's  farm,  and 
was  ordered  by  some  of  the  settlers  to  leave,  which  he  refused  to  do." 

[To  settle  such  a  case  in  the  courts  would  take  many  years. 
(It  is  a  familiar  and  sadly  true  expression  with  those  having 
ring  influence  at  court:  "  If  he  follows  me  in  the  courts,  it  will 
break  him  up.")  And  the  court  gang  would  charge  the  widow 
from  one  to  $20,000,  or  more,  as  she  was  able  and  inclined  to 
*'  follow  him  up."  And  then,  if  the  Jumper  belongs  to  the 
gang,  he  would  get  the  place,  right  or  wrong. 

So,  ivhy  should  not  the  courts  be  either  reformed  from  the 
mystic  gang,  or  else  abolished  ?] 

. . . . "  The  war  of  words  brought  forth  a  shooting  iron  in  the  hands  of 
Mr.  T . .  who  fired  at  B . . ,  meaning  business;  and  had  not  Mr.  S . .  grasjsed 
the  barrel,  the  ball  Avould,  no  doubt,  have  pierced  B. . .  's  heart.  Here 
ended  the  first  chapter."     [And  he  was  not  even  indicted.] 

"  "While  leaning  on  the  bar,  with  his  back  to  the  door,  Mr.  B. .  enter- 
ed with  a  pick-handle  and  immediately  dealt  S. . .  a  terrific  blow  on  the 
back  of  the  head.  S. .  staggered  and  turned  towards  him,  remarking  "you 
have  killed  me."  B..  immediately  dealt  him  another  blow  on  the  fore- 
head, when  S. . .  fell  unconscious  to  the  floor  and  was  removed  to  another 
room.  When  B. . .  heard  that  S. . .  was  not  dead,  he  tried  to  get  into  the 
room  to  shoot  him. " 

[Nor  was  he  (being  a  mason)  even  indicted. 

Why  should  the  secret  ring  brethren  be  allowed  to  hold 
office  in  the  Government  "  of  the  people,  for  the  people,"  and 
thus  make  it  a  horrible  farce  and  swindle  ?] 

' '  A  week  ago  a  watchman  detected  two  men  robbing  the  sluice  box  of 
the  m:  .e.  He  fired  several  shots  at  them.  The  other  day  the  decomposed 
body  of  a  man  was  found  near  the  mine.  The  hands  and  feet  were  eaten 
oflf  by  some  animal." 

[No  sympathy  is  expressed  or  acted  for  the  simple  robber, 
and  nobody  is  arrested  or  condemned  for  the  act.     But  I  know 


Real  Life  in  the  North- West.  437 

a  reputed  (and  I  never  heard  the  charge  denied)  sluice-box- 
robber,  who  had  more  influence  with  the  Governor  for  evil,  than 
any  whole  commuuity  of  citizens  had  for  good,  he  being  a  linked 
brother.  And  should  any  of  his  plundered  and  tortured  victims 
shoot  him  down  for  far  greater  and  cruel  crime  than  robbing 
sluice-boxes,  his  Excellency  (?)  would  call  out  the  militia  and 
there  would  be  big  rewards,  but  what  the  murderer  (?)  would 
suffer  once  again.  And  wouldn  t  the  ring  press  howl,  when  not 
engaged  in  '^laying  in  ivait  for  Mr.  burglar."] 

"A  btirglar  entered  the  house  of  W. . .  last  night  about  10  o'clock  and 
commenced  to  search  the  house,  when  W. . .  came  home  and  scared  him 
off.  "W. . .  saw  the  burglar  leap  the  fence;  and,  suspecting  that  something 
was  wrong,  pulled  out  his  revolver  and  fired  four  shots  at  the  burglar's  re- 
treating fonn.     A  careful  search  revealed  that  nothing  had  been  taken. " 

[To  kill  an  outsider,  even  on  suspicion  of  stealing,  in  the 
dark,  is  held  to  be  no  crime  ;  but  the  more  refined  and  expert 
linked  midnight  conspirator  and  thief  must  be  protected  against 
their  victims  by  the  State.     Is  this  equal,  just  and  fair  ?] 

"Mrs.  G. . .  called  her  husband's  attention  to  the  fact,  that  a  burglar 
was  around,  and  was  requested  to  '  listen. '  [As  though  he  could  not  see 
plenty  of  more  dangerous  ones  in  the  day  time.]  But  refusing  to  'do 
anything  of  the  sort, '  she  arose,  and  the  burglar,  not  wishing  an  inter\'iew 
with  her,  took  his  leave.  It  is  to  be  hoiked  that  this  burglar  may  soon  run 
across  some  one  who  does  not  sleep  like  a  log,  and  who  keej^s  a  loaded 
shotgun  by  his  bedside." 

[But  why  don't  5'ou  advocate  the  killing  of  shyster,  court 
and  other  more  expert  and  fatal  burglars,  and  give  their  victims 
as  much  space  for  a  hearing  as  you  devote  to  the  killing  of 
petty,  humble  thieves  ?] 

^^  Filled  with  shot. — A  boy,  named  A...,  and  three  companions  were 
discovered  by  Mr.  S. . .  at  ionr  o'clock  this  afternoon  in  the  act  of  stealing 
chickens  from  his  premises.  Mr.  S.  .  fired  on  them  wdth  a  shotgun,  the 
charge  lodging  in  the  right  arm  and  back  of  A. . .  All  of  the  boys  were 
caught  and  placed  in  jail." 

[But  the  refined  and  expert  confidence  thief  who  should 
steal  the  whole  ranch,  chickens  and  all,  would  be  a  "prosper- 
ous business  attorney,"  with  a  mystic  handle  to  his  name ;  and 
it  would  be  murder  (?)  to  kill  him  for  his  crime.] 


438  Real  Life  in  the  North-West. 

As  to  the  shooting  of  a  man  by  his  employee,  a  ring  editor 
says  : 

"  "While,  as  a  rale,  we  do  not  justify  the  use  of  fire-arms  in  tlie  settle- 
ment of  giievances,  yet,  the  man  who  would  not  defend  his  wife's  honor,  is 
not  the  kind  of  a  man  we  employ  in  any  capacity." 

[Yet,  they  hang,  or  reduce  to  'poverty,  outsiders  who  do  so 
against  your  pagan  brethren,  and  you  call  it  murder  !] 


"  He  was  awakened  by  the  noise  the  thief  made,  and  got  up  and  went 
after  him  with  a  shotgun.  The  thief  was  too  quick,  however,  and  made 
his  exit  just  as  the  boy  entered  the  room.  Young  G. . .  then  rushed  out  at 
the  door  in  hopes  of  getting  a  shot.  The  httle  fellow  disjalayed  a  good  deal 
of  j^lnch  for  one  so  young.     The  thief  got  nothing  whatever." 


"A  man,  named  R. . .,  having  some  money  on  his  person,  was  attack- 
ed by  four  men.  A  son  of  R. . .  's  came  to  his  father's  assistance,  and  with 
a  pistol,  shot  and  killed  two  of  the  men,  and  fatally  wounded  a  third.  ^He 
was  a  dutiful  son.''  " 

[And  all  to  save  a  few  dollars  !  And  then  howl  "  wnat  a 
horrible  thing  it  is,  to  take  human  life,"  when  the  robbers  are 
your  pagan  brethren.] 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Land  troubles,  etc.,  continued. — "The  Kiparian  fight. " — On Puget  Sound. 
— Shooting  for  the  tide  lands. — A  woman  defending  her  claim. — Dyna- 
mite.— Vigilantes  by  the  thousand. — Big  money  for  the  Coui-t  gang. — 
Lawyers  instigating  a  fight. — Land  jumping. — Coroner's  inquests. — 
"Defective"  land  titles. — A  trick  of  the  Court  gang. — "I  tell  you 
again  to  stop  plowing — crack  !  hang?" — Why  Government  lands  are 
classified  when  they  are  all  good  for  homes  if  good  for  anything. — 
The  Court  " bar "  [gang]  organizes  trouble. — "Be  ready." — "Para- 
sites."— "  Citizens  arming." — Wlio  gels  ninety  per  cent,  of  all  plunder  ? 

— How  TO   KEAD   NEWSPAPERS    "BETWEEN   THE  LINES." 

Li  np 

1  HE  people  who  attempted  to  jump  the  San  Juan  lime  quanies  have 
found  it  unhealthy  business  and  have  abandoned  their  plan." 


^^  Tlie  Riparian  Fight. — This  paper  gave  a  full  account  of  the  land 
jumping,  or  rather  water-front  grabbing  in  the  south  end  of  the  city  [on 
Puget  Sound].  'At  about  2:30  yesterday  morning  the  agents  of  the  com- 
pany here  obtained  the  tugs  Cehlo  and  Edna,  and  going  up  to  the  debat- 
able land  began  snaking  the  piles  up.  The  parties  who  had  the  piling 
done  appeared  on  the  scene,  boarded  a  pile-driver,  and  Mr.  B . .  took  a 
Winchester  repeating  rifle  and  began  shooting  at  the  company's  repre- 
sentatives. Some  of  the  bullets  struck  the  boat,  and  one  went  through 
the  Celilo's  cabin,  and  cut  eight  holes  through  the  engineer's  coat,  which 
was  hanging  on  the  wall.  Mr.  M . .  narrowly  escai^ed  being  shot  as  he 
was  standing  on  the  bow  holding  a  lantern  for  the  lines  to  be  made  fast  to 
the  piles  to  pull  them  out.  There  were  some  ten  or  fifteen  shots  fii-ed. 
What  the  ultimate  result  will  be  cannot  be  in-edicted. "  [Thus  they  "  de- 
bated."] 

•X- 

"The  crew  of  a  pile-driver  was  held  at  bay  to-day  by  a  woman  with  a 
six-shooter.  Her  husband  has  built  a  cabin  on  his  claim,  and  his  wife 
guards  the  place  in  the  daytime  while  he  goes  off  to  work.  A  pile-driver 
working  for  another  claimant  came  to  the  enclosure  and  began  tearing 
down  the  liiles  and  stringers,  when  the  woman  drew  a  revolver  and  drove 
them  from  the  scene.  Many  other  similar  cases  are  liable  to  be  developed 
in  the  near  future  on  the  Sound." 

■X- 

"  The  new  residence  of  Mr.  S. .,  president  of  W. .  colony,  was  blown 
to  atoms  with  dynamite.     The  building  was  valued  at  $2,000.    This  result 

(439) 


440  L.\]SD  Troubles. 


is  supposed  to  be  the  outcome  of  a  quarrel  between  other  settlers  and  the 
colony, "  [The  owner  of  the  house,  if  an  outsider,  might  be  thankful  that 
his  enemies  used  dynamite  instead  of  the  court  gang.  ] 

"  The  settlers  in  Harney  Valley  have  organized  a  vigilance 
committee  to  protect  themselves  from  land  jumpers.  Around 
here  those  who  encourage  such  rascals  are  rewarded  with 
office,  [made  Governors  by  the  gang]  and  our  settlers  have 
themselves  only  to  thank  for  it."  [By  not  treating  them  as 
other  burglars  are  treated.] 

"  A  gentleman  from  Harney  Yalley  informs  us  that  there  is 
now  an  organized  body  of  vigilantes  in  that  section,  and  that 
they  propose  to  make  it  very  lively  for  unlawful  land  jumpers, 
horse  thieves,  and  [secret  ring  men]  in  general.  He  further 
informed  us  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  association,  and  that 
he  joined  it  because  it  was  a  public  necessity  to  protect  the 
poor  man  and  his  family  from  being  robbed  and  driven  from 
the  land  to  which  he  is  justly  entitled."  [By  the  ring  Govern- 
or's "  good  judiciary."] 

"  While  P .  .  was  moving  a  section  of  fence  made  by  H .  . , 
the  latter  armed  himself  with  a  gun,  and  shot  P .  .  dead,  the 
ball  taking  effect  in  the  left  breast,  and  passing  through  the 
heart."     [Which  means  big  money  in  the  pockets  of  the  gang.] 

"  Last  Sabbath,  W . .  shot  and  killed  G . .  while  the  latter 
was  attempting  to  go  through  a  field  belonging  to  W . . .  Both 
parties  owned  ranches,  and  had  taken  legal  advice.  W .  .  's  law- 
yer told  him  that  he  had  a  right  to  fence  up  the  road  ;  and  G .  .  's 
lawyer  told  him  that  he  had  a  right  to  cut  the  wires  and  go 
through  and  over  W.  .'s  land;  and  when  they  met,  only  a  few 
words  passed  when  W .  .  fired  a  revolver  at  G .  . ,  but  missed 
him  ;  then  G  .  fired  at  W . .  hitting  him  on  his  arm ;  then  W . . 
fired  again,  hitting  G .  .  in  the  forehead,  killing  him  instantly. 
They  were  both  steady,  industrious  and  respectable  men." 
[Which  means  more  plunder  for  the  gang,  the  two  lawyer- 
"members-of-the-bar,"  being  secret  partners.  Are  burglars  any 
worse?] 

"  The  difficulty  occurred  over  a  piece  of  land,  when  a  fight 
ensued  in  which  A .  .  stabbed  one  of  the  F . .  's  severely.  The 
one  who  was  stabbed  was  not  able  to  travel,  nor  in  condition  to 
be  moved."     [Another  picnic  for  the  court  gang.] 


Vigilantes.  441 

"The  jumping  of  land  is  the  cause  of  considerable  trouble 
[and  plunder  to  the  gang].  A  man  named  C.  was  killed  by- 
three  men  whom  he  endeavored  to  dispossess.  The  coroner's 
jury  returned  a  verdict  of  justifiable  homicide  in  the  killing  of 
C..." 

''  M .  .  has  been  frightfully  beaten  while  attempting  to  locate 
a  ranch,  by  parties  hired  by  a  [masonic]  ring  of  land-grabbers 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  settlers  from  locating  on  public 
lands  adjacent  to  their  ranges.  Serious  trouble  is  anticipated 
there  in  this  connection." 

"At  the  place  of  the  shooting  he  found  the  body  of  the  slain  man 
lying  on  the  ground  and  his  rifle  by  his  side.  He  had  been  shot  in  the 
neck  and  heart.  D . .  and  the  H . .  's  have  been  on  ill  terms  for  a  long  time, 
based  on  the  ownership  of  a  quarter  section  of  land,  upon  which  the  H . .  's 
settled  years  ago.  The  pa^iers  being  '  defective. '  [A  very  common  trick  by 
the  court  gang,  and  they  call  them  '  errors  !]  "  D . .  jumped  the  land,  and 
after  a  great  deal  of  litigation  his  claim  was  confirmed  by  the  coui-t.  Of 
course,  there  was  a  gTeat  deal  of  bad  blood  between  D .  .  and  the  H .  .  's 
growing  out  of  these  proceedings. 

D . .  said,  "I  tell  you  again  to  stop  plowing,"  and  raised  his  gun  as  if 
to  jjut  it  to  his  shoulder,  when  H. .  at  once  threw  up  his  gun  and  fired 
■with  fatal  eflfect.  This  is  regarded  as  the  first  of  many  similar  aflairs  that 
may  occur  on  the  same  ranch. " 

[Such  is  the  curse  of  prostituted  courts  and  their  mystic 
"bar."  Are  they  less  dangerous  and  fatal  than  the  less  refined 
and  expert  burglar?  then  ivluj  not  "lay  in  wait"  for  them  also? 

How  many  unhappy  families  are  grieving  in  secret  to-day 
at  this  lurking,  expert  tyranny  that  opj)resses  them,  and  the 
complicated  and  long  protracted  ruin  that  it  has  brought  upon 
them  ?] 

"  E . .  offered  to  file  on  a  quarter  section  of  C . .  's  land  C . .  bought 
from  the  State  as  swamp  and  overflowed  land,  but  the  State  never  had  a 
patent  from  the  Government.  E . .  erected  a  cabin  on  the  land,  and  last 
night  about  fifteen  men  came  there,  and  circling  about  the  building,  com- 
menced a  fusilade  ^vith  rifles.  E . .  came  out,  and  standing  in  the  open 
field,  kejst  up  his  end  of  the  firing,  aided  by  two  or  three  friends.  More 
trouble  is  feared,  as  there  are  many  cases  of  similar  disputed  tracts. " 

[This  classification  of  Government  land  {cit  all)  was  always 
(and  intended  so  to  be  by  the  gang)  a  mysterious  swindle  to  fl a iv 
land  titles  and  thus  make  business  that  ivould  not  he  called  hurcj- 


442  Land  Troubles. 


lary  to  he  shot  at  for  the  court  gangs,  and  to  allow  their  pagan 
members  to  steal  large  tracts  in  the  way  of  business.  Govern- 
ment lands  should  not  be  classified  at  all,  as  it  is  all  good  for 
homes,  or  it  will  be  in  time,  if  it  is  good  for  anything.'] 

D . .  "with  two'otlier  men  went  to  tlie  house  on  the  place,  presumably  to 
drive  A . .  away  and  take  possession.  A .  .  told  him  to  go  away  ;  D . .  re- 
fused ;  whereupon  A . .  took  his  Winchester  and  stood  in  the  door  and  shot 
D. .  dead."     [More  wliiskey  for  the  gang.] 

"  The  appeal  to  lawful  authority  in  cases  [against  the  gang] 
has  been  in  vain,  and  the  pistol  is  therefore  resorted  to.  One 
man  has  been  able  to  disperse  an  entire  meeting  of  the  gang, 
to  rout  a  newspaper  office,  and  to  get  clear  as  yet  with  a  simple 
fine  of  $50  for  contempt  of  court."  [What  could  be  more  con- 
temptible than  a  prostituted  court  itself?] 

"A  present  feature  of  mining  in  this  great  mineral  belt  is  the  occur- 
rence of  law  siiits.  The  T .  .  mine  has  been  in  litigation  the  greater  part 
of  the  year,  and  a  great  many  others  have  also  been  troubled  in  the  same 
way.  The  trouble  has  been  okganized  by  a  horde  [Lodge]  of  pestiferous 
\)nasonic\  lawyers,  ["the  bar."]  whom  it  were  well  for  the  country  to  be 
rid  of.  The  troubles  at  W. .  have  lately  culminated  in  the  kiUing  of  one 
man  and  the  severe  wounding  of  another,  which  may  be  construed  as  a 
lesson  to  jumi^ers  and  their  legal  [HnkedJ  abettors." 

"  Be  Ready. — We  mean  for  our  citizens  to  keep  their  fire- 
arms at  hand  to  shoot  the  [mystic  ring]  thieves,  now  spying  out 
the  land,  [and  secretly  organizing  with  the  courts  and  Governor, 
trouble  and  ruin  to  the  people,  wherein  they  live  and  lie]  on 
the  first  attempt  of  them  to  rob." 

"  Parasites. — What  we  say  in  another  place  about  the 
[more  refined  and  expert  masonic]  light-fingered  gentry  spying 
out  this  land,  is  to  arouse  our  people  to  a  sense  of  the  danger 
there  is  in  their  being  allowed  to  remain  among  us.  We  know 
we  will  incur  their  displeasure,  but  it  is  our  duty  to  warn  the 
people  of  danger  from  such  venomous  parasites  of  human 
society.  This  class  of  men  are  liable  to  burn  us  out  [or  drag 
us  into  the  prostituted  courts]  for  purposes  of  plunder  and 
spite  against  the  people  who  refuse  to  be  robbed.  Remember 
these  " prof essionals "  [these  refined,  expert,  "charitable"  (?) 
thieves]  rope  in  the  unwary  of  town  and  country  [prostitute 
the  courts]  and  rob  them.     The  matter  is  one  into  which  every 


Vigilantes.  443 


lionest  man  should  look  with  alarming  interest.  As  you  re- 
gard your  happiness  and  prosperity,  arouse  yourselves  to  vigil- 
ance, and  see  that  our  town  is  not  infested  with  the  characters 
named.  We  know  some  of  the  citizens  are  already  arming 
themselves,  and  have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  discuss  the  sight 
for  a  gallows  from  which  to  dangle  these  men.  [The  wreck  of] 
our  home  is  here,  and  we  would  be  a  cowardly  accomplice  not 
to  raise  the  alarm  in  this  perilous  hour.  The  interest  of  our 
town  [and  country]  must  be  protected  by  ridding  ourselves  of  a 
dangerous  class.     Act  at  once,  and  noiu." 

[For  over  ninety  per  cent,  of  all  the  property  that  has  ever 
been  stolen,  and  of  homes  that  have  been  plundered  and 
wrecked  and  ruined  in  the  northwest,  has  been  done — not  by 
the  plain,  humble  burglars,  for  whom  we  "lay  in  wait  "  to  shoot 
down — but  the  more  refined  and  haughty,  expert,  linked  and 
mysterious  masons,  that  flaw  the  laws  and  prostitute  the 
courts  and  Governors.     Over  ninety  !  (90)  per  cent  !] 

"He  jests  at  scars  that  never  felt  a  -wound." 

"Fell  sorrow's  tooth  doth  never  rankle  more, 
Than  when  it  bites  but  lanceth  not  the  sore. " 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Sample  tragedy  cases  in  the  North- west,  in  brief,  concluded. — ^What  mem- 
bers of  the  gang  can  do  to  others  with  impunity. — ^Victims  that  were 
not  venerated  or  sanctified  by  the  gang. — About  land. — "Shot  him 
dead." — Stabbed  him  to  the  heart. — Stabbed  him  in  the  head. — Shot 
down  in  cold  blood. — The  coiirt  btu-nt  in  effigy  and  why. — "A 
dark  scheme." — "  This  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  had  to  face  lead  to 
protect  my  rights." — "Served  the  fiend  right." — Shooting  a  man 
down  in  cold  blood  for  a  few  dollars. — Killing  a  man  for  alleged  threats 
to  bum  his  house. — "The  hero  of  the  hour,"  etc.,  etc. — From  the 
press,  and  hoio  to  read  it  "  between  the  lines.'" 

\J killed  M. . .  over  a  land  claim.     O. . .  seen  M. . .  coming  towards 

him  with  a  gun,  when  he  shot  him  dead. " 

"T. . .  and  S. . .  had  some  trouble  in  a  saloon,  when  T. . .  went  out, 
armed  himself  with  a  big  knife,  returned  and  stabbed  S. . .  to  the  heart." 

' '  Capt.  B. . .  shot  "W. . .  down  in  cold  blood.  The  j^eople  burnt  the 
coiu't  in  effigy  for  turning  him  loose." 

"E. . .  killed  T. . .  by  stabbing  him  in  the  head.  T. . .  having  struck 
him  with  his  fist." 

"  D. . .  drew  his  pistol  and  commanded  H. . .  to  leave  the  yard.  H. . . 
(who  was  unarmed  and  drunk)  continued  to  advance,  and  D. . .  fired, 
shooting  bim  through  the  body,  and  he  died.     D. . .  will  go  free." 

"McC . .  shot  B . .  '  TTiere  toas  a  dark  scheme  on  foot  to  get  B. . .  out  of 
the  way.^ " 

"S. ..  killed  D. . .  who  was  threatening  to  assault  him  or  drive  him 
oiit  of  town;  shot  him  twice,  though  D. . .  was  unarmed." 

"D. . .  shot  and  killed  L. . .  The  justice  told  him  'to  shoot,'  and  he 
did  shoot.  The  Judge  discharged  him  on  the  ground  that  '  he  had  been 
threatened,  and,  therefore,  acted  in  self -defeyice.' " 

"M. . .  shot  (hitting  him  three  times)  and  killed  F. . .  Both  parties 
met.  M. . .  said  he  was  ready,  both  fired  at  once.  M. . .  said,  '  this  is  not 
the  first  time  I  have  had  to  face  lead,  to  protect  my  rights.'  " 

"F. . .  shot  and  killed  McD. . .,  while  attemj^ting  to  crawl  through  a 
window  into  his  (F. . .  's)  house.  The  verdict  here  is  that  it  served  the 
fiend  right. " 

"P. . .  shot  and  killed  W. . .  who  was  following  P. . .  with  a  shotgun." 

(414) 


Heroes  of  the  Houe.  445 


"G. . .  concealed  himself  witli  a  shotgun  behind  the  door  of  a  black- 
smith shop  and  shot  P. . .  dead  across  the  street." 

"A  man  under  the  influence  of  opium  became  enraged  at  Mrs.  F. . . 
and  daughters,  and  chased  them  through  the  house  with  a  knife.  A 
gentleman  came  to  their  rescue  and  shot  the  man." 

"H. . .  called  K. . .  over  the  fence  and  shot  him  five  times." 

" P. . .  stabbed  B. . .  to  death  over  a  mining  claim." 

" L. . .  shot  and  killed  D. . .  for  raising  a  singletree  against  him." 

"A  one-legged  man  (S. . .),  having  been  thus  crippled  while  in  rail- 
road employ,  being  broke,  was  put  off  a  train;  and,  as  he  was  lea^vdng,  was 
shot  and  killed  by  a  train  man.  Witliout  warning,  or  cause  of  provocation, 
pulled  out  a  pistol  and  deliberately  shot  the  retreating  tramps^ 

"  P. . .  shot  and  killed  C. . .  who  was  unarmed  and  retreating." 

"H. . .  went  to  M. . .  's  house  Avith  a  shotgun  to  settle  their  difficulties, 
when  M. .  .  wrenched  the  gun  from  him  and  clubbed  him  to  death  with  it. 
The  verdict  [of  acquittal]  meets  with  general  approbation." 

"  A. .  .  shot  P. .  .  so  he  died,  because  A.  .'s  wife  told  him  that  P. .  had 
abused  her  in  dunning  her  for  a  debt." 

"S. . .  shot  and  killed  0. . .  over  money  matters." 

"A  most  heinous,  dastardly  and  cowardly  murder  has  been  committed 
by  a  number  of  thie\ang  ['mysterious ']  vagabonds,  and  better  known  as 
[Masons]  stranglers.  S. . . ,  my  brother,  while  tinder  the  pretended  pro- 
tection of  the  [linked]  constable  and  an  assistant  of  his  own  choosing  [an- 
other] ,  conducting  him,  under  the  order  of  the  said  stranglers,  to  town, 
so  that  he  could  leave  the  country,  in  obedience  to  theii-  orders,  was,  by  a 
band  of  those  [mystic]  cut-throats,  fired  ui^on  and  cruelly  murdered  by 
them.  And,  not  being  satisfied  with  their  dirty,  cowardly  work,  after  he 
was  lying  upon  the  ground,  his  face  downward,  and,  no  doubt,  dead,  as 
he  ah'eady  had  received  at  their  hands  six  mortal  wounds,  some  one  of  the 
heartless  [Masons],  more  steeped  in  crime  than  the  rest,  (if  such  a  thing 
were  possible),  placed  a  gun  to  the  back  of  hishead  and  shot  him  through, 
the  ball  passing  through  the  head  and  carrying  his  whiskers  into  the 
ground.  Then  they  dejDarted  and  left  the  corjase  from  that  time  till  ten 
o'clock  the  next  day,  to  be  rooted  around  by  hogs,  or  a  j^rey  for  coyotes  or 
carion  birds.  [Such  is  their  '  charity. ']  No  effort  was  made,  or  has  been 
made,  to  ascertain  who  committed  this  diabolical  murder.  Of  course,  the 
officers  who  had  him  in  charge  could  not  distinguish  the  murderers,  though 
no  masks  were  worn.  No  efforts  were  made  by  the  [Masonic]  officers  to 
save  my  brother.  It  is  supposed  that  the  murderers  are  well-known,  but 
no  one  has  the  temerity  to  '  blow '  as  yet,  for  fear  then-  fate  may  be  the 
same  as  S. . .  's.     Nearly  all  good  people  unite  in  denouncing  this  murder 


446  Heeoes  of  the  Hour. 


as  a  most  wanton,  cruel,  uncalled-for,  dastardly,  mean,  contemptible, 
cowardly  and  damnable  murder,  that  woiild  cause  tlie  blusli  of  shame  to 
cover  the  brow  of  the  most  wanton  savage.  And  when  these  [linked 
MasonsJ  are  called  upon  to  give  their  final  account,  if  there  is  one  place 
more  dreadful  than  another  in  the  abode  of  the  damned,  it  "will  certainly 
be  assigned  to  them,  and  they  will  be  doubly  damned  for  countless  ages 
of  eternity.  L.  S. . ." 

"W, ..  took  a  shotgun  and,  Sunday,  followed  a  man  up  who  had 
stolen  his  horse  and,  though  unarmed,  shot  him  down,  and  he  expired  in 
about  an  hour  in  great  agony." 

"Y. . .  took  Sherriff  B. .  .'s  pistol  from  its  holster  and  robbed  him 
of  a  few  dollars  in  a  saloon.  B. . .  then  got  another  pistol  of  the  bar- 
tender, followed  Y. . .  and  opened  fire,  shooting  him  down."  [Thus 
shooting  a  man  down  in  cold  blood  for  a  few  dollars.] 

"  B. . .  was  discharged  for  killing  a  man  on  the  ground  that  he  had 
threatened  to  burn  his  house." 

"A  Grand  Juror  gave  E. . .  to  understand  that  he  could  get  no  re- 
dress at  the  hands  of  the  court,  and,  therefore,  advised  him  to  take 
the  law  in  his  own  hands.  So  he  went  forthwith  and  shot  the  tres- 
passer dead  in  his  own  house.  He  is  the  hero  of  the  hour,  and  the 
whole  community  think  the  shooting  was  justifiable." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  Cotjkts  and  laws  op  "Washington  and  AiiASKA,  condensed  from  the 
Press  10 ith  explanations,  etc. — Women  as  jurors,  etc. — "The  infamous 
decision,"  etc. — "Complaints  of  court." — "A  novel  ruling,"  etc. 

1  HE  time  has  come  when  no  one  feels  safe  from  the  attack  of  the 
assassin,  and  the  frequent  inquiry  is,  what  good  man  will  be  next  to  yield 
up  his  life  for  the  reason  that  he  possesses  a  httle  projaerty,  or  has  in- 
curred the  disj)leasure  of  some  [masonic]  wretch  who  has  no  fear  of  the 
law.  Scarcely  a  man  dares  to  leave  his  own  door  without  firearms  in  his 
possession,  and  women  and  childi'en  are  in  constant  terror  lest  the  mur- 
derer may  select  them  for  his  next  victim. 

The  graveyards  are  filKng  up,  and  horrible  crimes  are  forgotten  almost 
as  soon  as  committed.  A  person  who  willfully  murders  another  for  gain 
is  entitled  to  no  sympathy,  and  deserves  to  be  treated  more  like  a  wild 
beast  than  a  human  being." 

How  IT  IS  DONE. — "Be  it  remembered  that  the  battle  is  generally  won 
or  lost  when  the  twelfth  juror  is  sworn."  These  words  are  remarkable  in 
that  they  are  so  fearfully  true ;  remarkable,  too,  that  they  should  be 
spoken  by  an  attorney  at  such  a  time.  It  is  equivalent  to  saying  that 
jurors  do  not  decide  according  to  law  and  evidence.  It  is  coming  to  be  a 
recognized  fact  that  the  man  who  summons  the  jury  has  more  to  do  in  the 
decision  of  a  cause  than  any  other  one  connected  \nih.  it.  Let  all  who  fail 
to  comprehend  a  verdict  remember  and  ponder  these  words,  "The  battle 
is  generally  won  or  lost  when  the  last  juror  is  sworn." 

[Yet  people  often  support  candidates  of  a  midnight  brotherhood  for 
sheriff  and  commissioners.  ] 

* 

* 

"The  case  of  W.  K.  vs.  J.  K.,  to  try  the  rights  of  jjroperty  in  relation 
to  a  certain  colt,  came  up  before  Justice  J.  B.  L.  last  Saturday.  The  jury 
gave  a  verdict  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff.  The  costs  of  the  suit  amount  to 
over  ^500.  Rather  an  expensive  suit  over  a  ^50  horse.  The  case  will  be 
taken  up  on  a  writ  of  certiorari." 

[Such  is  the  price  of  justice  in  a  masonic  court.  ] 

N.  B. — "Captain  'J.  B.  L.,'  formerly  State  librarian  of ,  recently 

a  justice  of  the  peace  and  auditor  of  Pomeroy,  was  jjlaced  in  jail  last  night, 
in  default  of  S500  bonds,  to  await  the  action  of  the  grand  jury,  on  a  charge 
of  embezzlement.  Several  charges  of  a  hke  character  are  hanging  over 
him." 

[Though  the  parties  were  robbed  of  large  sums  of  money,  the  brother, 
being  a  licensed  criminal,  was  dismissed  by  the  good  to  him  judiciary. 
And  of  such  are  the  "  courts  of  justice."] 

(447) 


■148  Couars  in  Washington  and  Alaska. 

"Judge  G. .  lias  decided  that  titles  to  legislative  acts  may  not  specifi- 
cally express  the  object  of  the  law,  and  still  be  valid.  This  was  to  have 
been  exisected,  as  Judge  L . .  held  to  i^recisely  a  different  opinion  some 
time  ago." 

* 

"Demurrer  to  the  petition  was  overruled.  In  this  Judge  G . .  decided 
that  the  insolvent  law  of  the  Territory  is  valid,  holding  contrary  to  a  de- 
cision of  Judge  W . .  some  time  since. " 

[The  profession  of  law  is  a  A-icious,  expensive  humbug,  and  should  be 
abohshed.] 

"Judge  L. .  has  decided  the  local  ojition  law  unconstitutional  on  the 
ground  that  it  is  an  attempt  to  confer  legislative  power  ui^on  the  people  at 
the  polls.  This  is  precisely  what  might  be  expected  from  such  a  source. 
His  decision  vnll  carry  no  weight  outside  of  his  own  district.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  local  oi^tion  law,  and  especially  the  local  ojDtion  principle 
of  voting  by  the  j)eople  on  the  question,  was  carefully  considered  by  three 
ex- Judges,  by  Chief  Justice  G . .  and  by  other  lawyers  far  superior  in 
abihty  to  Judge  L . . ,  and  they  unhesitatingly  pronounce  the  law  constitu- 
tional in  every  respect.  It  is  a  pity  that  judicial  ignorance  and  stupidity 
of  the  L . .  kind  should  be  a  stumbling  block  in  the  progi*ess  of  moral 
ref ornj.  His  appointment  was  a  very  bad  one  from  the  beginning,  and  the 
question  as  to  who  is  responsible  for  it  is  pertinent  at  this  particular  time." 
[The  masonic  ring.] 

' '  Judge  T . .  has  decided  in  a  Yakima  case  that  the  local  ojition  law  of 
the  last  legislature  is  vaHd.  His  decision  is  a  strong  document,  and  is  sup- 
ported by  a  formidable  array  of  judicial  decisions. 

The  turning  point  in  the  decision  is,  that  the  local  option  law  is  not  a 
delegation  of  legislative  power,  but  merely  the  delegation  of  the  power  to 
determine  upon  what  contingency  the  law  shall  be  oj)erative." 

[And  the  Supreme  court  decided  both  ways,  so  as  to  make  business  for 
the  brotherhood  and  "members  of  the  bar,"  at  the  exijense  of  the  peojile, 
and  making  the  legislature  a  useless  body  or  branch  of  government.] 

"There  is  intense  excitement  all  over  Washington  over  the  decision  of 
the  supreme  court,  declaring  unconstitutional  the  act  of  the  legislature, 
granting  suffrage  to  women. 

Last  Friday  the  j^eople  of  this  coast  were  astonished  by  a  despatch 
from  Olympia,  stating  the  supreme  court  had  declai-ed  the  women's  suff- 
rage law  void,  and  that  hereafter  women  could  not  lawfully  vote  or  sit  on 
juries  in  this  Territory. 

Judge  L . .  in  his  opinion  says,  that  the  present  code  of  Washington 
does  not  contain  any  authenticated  act  of  the  legislative  assembly.  It 
purjiorts  to  have  been  edited  and  comijiled  by  a  private  party.  It  con- 
tains no  titles  to  acts,  no  enacting  clause,  no  signature  of  the  president, 
speaker,  or  Governor.  The  chapter,  di\'isions  and  sections  all  purisort  to 
be  the  act  of  a  private  party.     He  says  it  is  clear  that  this  book  does  not 


Women  as  Juroks.  449 


contain  an  act  or  copy  of  an  act  passed  by  the  legislative  assembly,  and  it 
cannot  be  known  officially  w/ia^  it  does  or  does  not  contain."  [Vet  it  was 
effective  as  against  outsidei's.] 

"In  tliis  way  all  the  acts  granting  women  the  right  to  vote  are  void, 
and  if  unable  to  vote  they  are  incapable  of  acting  as  jurors." 

"  Chief  Justice  G. .  says  :  'From  all  that  is  decisive,  and  from  much 
that  is  not  decisive,  in  the  very  able  opinions  just  read,  I  totally  dissent.'  " 

"Following  is  the  opinion  of  Judge  D . .  -with  some  facts  cited  by  him: 
'  The  opinion  announced  by  Justices  T . .  and  L . .  holding  the  Avoman  suff- 
rage law  unconstitutional,  does  not  have  that  effect. '  " 

"The  same  questions  have  been  differently  decided  by  th7-ee  of  the 

judges  of  the  suj)reme  coui-t  while  hearing  cases  in  that  court If 

the  opinions  in  these  four  cases  are  not  decisive  of  the  question,  how  can 
the  oisinion  of  L . .  and  T . .  be  decisive  ?  But  if  the  woman  suffrage  act 
amending  section  3,050  of  the  code  is  void  for  the  reasons  assigned  in  the 
opinion,  then  the  act  amending  section  2,113  of  the  code,  and  fixing  the 
time  of  holding  the  present  term  of  the  supreme  court  is  void  for  the  same 
reasons,  namely,  a  defective  title.'" 

"The  title  of  the  two  acts  is  in  substance  and  effect  the  same,  and  if 
one  act  is  void,  the  other  is  void,  and  the  supreme  court  is  how  in 
session  without  the  authority  of  law,  and  all  its  decisions  and  doings  have 
no  validity. 

I  am  not  attempting  to  show  the  fallacy  or  unsoundness  of  the  opinion 

in  question,  but  only  one  of  the  results  of  such  an  opinion,  that  if  '  all  the 

acts  granting  women  the  right  to  vote  are  void,'  the  act  under  which  the 

.  supreme  court  is  in  session  is  also  void.     [In  other  words,  the  lawyer 

inachine  is  a  humbug  and  expensive  swi^idle.^ 

The  editor  says  :  "  Our  readers  can  take  each  their  own  views  of  the 
matter  set  forth  above,  and  when  they  get  through  studying  on  them,  if 
they  know  any  more  about  the  real  statutes  of  the  question  than  they  did 
before  they  commenced,  they  know  more  than  the  writer  does  about  it." 

"The  decision  of  the  supreme  court,  declaring  the  woman  suffrage 
act  of  1883  unconstitutional,  has  been  the  absorbing  topic  of  conversation 
along  the  streets  to-day.  In  view  of  the  special  interest  connected  -with 
the  case,  representatives  of  the  Hetcs  have  taken  pains  to  secure  exjires- 
sions  of  opinions  from  a  number  of  our  leading  citizens." 

One  says  :  "  Public  sentiment  in  Washington  Territory  is  largely  in 
favor  of  woman  suffrage.  When  I  first  came  here  I  was  prejudiced 
against  woman  suffrage,  but  my  experience  has  shown  to  me  that  the 
good  of  society  demands  that  women  should  exercise  the  same  political 
rights  as  men.  This  decision  is  a  real  calamity.  It  is  made  on  purely 
technical  gi-ounds  and  ^dthout  reference  to  the  merits  of  the  question. 
The  matter  is  still  more  to  be  regretted  for  the  reason  that  it  Avill  impair 
pubhc  confidence  in  exposition  and  administration  of  law  by  our  courts. 
It  is  feared  by  many  that  the  supreme  court  of  Washington  Territory  is 
29 


450  "The  Infamous  Decision." 

inclined  to  keep  in  the  old  ruts  and  avoid  the  decision  of  questions  ujion 
their  intrinsic  merits." 

Another. — "The  court  has  stultified  itself.  The  decision  looks  pet- 
tish. The  suijreme  court  ha\dng  three  times  i^assed  on  the  question,  it 
should  be  recognized  as  settled.  The  legisiatui-e  haxing  been  in  session 
since  the  time  of  those  decisions,  it  can  be  well  considered  that  the  people 
have  acquiesced  in  these  laws.  Here  is  another  consideration  :  If  that 
decision  goes  to  the  extent  that  female  juries,  or  juries  in  which  there  were 
women,  are  invahd,  then  all  present  indictments  now  pending,  the  Chinese 
cases  included,  and  the  conviction  in  the  celebrated  W . .  murder  case  that 
is  now  before  the  supreme  coiirt,  are  invalidated. " 

Another. — "The  decision  knocks  the  stuffing  out  of  things,  and  yet 
does  not  settle  the  question.  It  makes  a  muddle.  If  an  offender  is  tried 
and  contacted  in  the  second  or  third  judicial  district  by  a  jury  comjjosed 
in  whole  or  part  of  women,  an  appeal  to  the  supreme  coui-t  would  result 
in  the  annulment  of  the  judgment  ;  whereas,  if  an  ajspeal  should  come  up 
from  the  first  or  fourth  judicial  district,  based  on  the  present  decision,  the 
judgment  would  be  affirmed,  as  it  is  known  that  Judge  G . .  and  Judge  H . . 
favor  female  suffrage  and  regard  the  law  as  constitutional,  and  Judge  L . . 
and  Judge  T. .  maintain  the  opposite  views." 

Another. — "I  am  sorry  to  see  the  woman's  suffi'age  act  declared  un- 
constitutional. I  was  not  at  one  time  in  favor  of  woman's  suffrage,  but 
since  I  have  seen  its  workings  in  this  territory,  I  am  in  favor  of  it." 

Another. — "I  have  sat  in  the  Jury  box  ^vith  women  and  always  found 
them  good  'jurors.' " 

Another. — "I  am  opposed  to  woman  suffi-age  and  glad  to  know  the 
Supreme  Court  has  rendered  the  decision  it  has." 

Another. — "I  am  in  favor  of  woman  suffrage,  provided  they  vote  the 
democratic  ticket." 

Another. — "I  consider  it  a  great  public  calamity.  "Woman  suffrage 
has  been  a  success  in  this  territory." 

Another. — "  I  invariably  found  that  women  made  as  good  jurors  as 
you  find  anywhere.  They  had  keen  perceptions  and  exercised  most  ex- 
cellent judgment.     The  decision  was  wrong." 

Another. — "I  have  always  been  opposed  to  woman  suffrage  and  like 
the  decision." 

Another. — A  legal  gentleman  said:  "A  quibble,  yes,  sir,  a  quibble." 

Another  legal  gentleman : — "The  decision  is  a  splendid  one.  It  wiU 
benefit  the  judiciary  system  of  this  territory.  Women  have  not  made  good 
jurors."  [They  not  being  so  safe  to  bribe  or  subject  to  mystic  signs. 
And  such  decisions  benefit  the  judiciary  system  by  making  the  territory 
"  a  very  inviting  fi^ld  of  clover /or  the  legal  fraternity  "  the  cancek  of  the 
PEOPIiE.  ] 

"A  Sequence. 
The  legitimate  fruits  of  the  Supreme  Coiirt  are  already  making  their 
appearance.     The  result  is  to  create  endless  controversy,  constant  con- 


Courts  in  "Washington  and  Alaska.  451 

fusion  and  instability  of  judicial  proceedings  undei*  our  statutes,  for  the 
decision  ^vill  reacli  and  apply  with  equal  force  to  half  the  enactments  of 
the  last  two  sessions  of  the  Territorial  Assembly,  whenever  the  point  is- 
raised  [/or  a  big  price  or  ring  influence]  with  respect  to  any  one  of  them. 

Upon  the  convening  of  the  District  Court  in  Seattle,  the  United  States 
Attorney  raised  the  objection  that  no  legal  term  of  the  District  Court  could 
then  he  held,  since  the  act  of  1885,  changing  the  time  of  holding  the 
terms  of  the  District  Coiirts,  was  Hke-ndse  imperfect  in  its  title,  for  the 
same  reasons  upon  which  the  decision  against  the  woman  suffrage  act  was 
rendered,  and,  therefore,  void.  And  further  that,  according  to  the  iirin- 
ciple  involved  in  its  own  decision,  no  legal  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  had 
been  held,  since  its  authority  to  sit  at  that  time  was  derived  from  an  act 
with  the  same  imperfect  title.  He  beheved,  in  a  rehearing  of  the  case,  the 
decision  would  be  reversed,  for  the  same  Judges,  if  they  were  consistent, 
must  decide  that  they  had  no  jurisdiction,  since  they  were  not  legally  in 
session. 

Judge  G. . . ,  after  hearing  arguments  on  both  sides,  determined  to  hold 
the  session  of  the  court,  '  since  it  was  clear  in  his  own  mind  that  both  acts 
were  vaHd,  though  he  believed  that  the  logic  advanced  by  the  judges  who 
dehvered  the  opinion  in  the  suffrage  case  would  render  this  act  also  void, 
because  the  title  did  not  state  the  object  of  the  act. ' 

In  case  of  any  conviction  at  this  term  of  coui-t,  it  is  more  than  likely 
that  an  ajapeal  will  be  taken  [if  the  parties  have  plenty  of  money  or  belong 
to  the  gang]  to  the  Supreme  Court,  on  the  grotrnd  of  no  jurisdiction,  and 
it  will  be  interesting  to  see,  how  these  same  Judges  will  accej)t  the  fruits 
of  their  former  decision." — Daily  News. 

"The  result  of  this  decision,  if  adhered  to  by  the  District  Courts  and 
followed  to  its  legitimate  end,  will  occasion  endless  litigation  [and  enrich 
the  gang,  to  which  the  Judges  belong,  at  the  expense  of  the  people]. 
Titles  to  much  property  will  be  unsettled.  The  decision  is  disastrous.  It 
will  result  in  setting  aside  all  the  indictments  against  the  Chinese  conspi- 
rators and  against  those  indicted  for  defrauding  the  Government  of  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  timber  land,  and  for  perjury  and  like  crimes.  In  some 
of  these  cases  the  statute  of  Hmitation  has  run,  and  no  new  indictments  can 
be  found." 

"In  this  territory  half-breed  Indians  und  Kanakas  can  vote.  The 
only  class  of  persons  excluded  from  such  rights  are  Chinamen,  full-blooded 
Indians  and  white,  intelligent  women.  I  say  '  Shame/'  The  plain,  homely 
people  of  the  practical  Abraham  Lincoln  kind  are  almost  without  exception 
in  favor  of  the  law." 

"The  Infamous  Decision. 

When  territorial  Judges  bang  their  hair  and  again  undertake  to  annul 
legislative  enactments  and  overrule  judicial  decisions  by  frowns  and 
sophistry,  they  will  do  well  to  act  with  more  circumspection.  They  will 
do  well  to  consult  authorities,  and  not  indulge  in  whims  and  vagaries. 


452  WoaiEN  AS  Jurors. 


The  recent  opinions  delivered  by  two  of  tlie  Associate  Justices  of 
"Washington  Ten-itory  [Free  Masons]  have  received  a  scorching  through 
the  press,  which,  it  is  hoped,  will  serve  as  a  waming  to  them  and  to  others. 
The  '  opinions '  have  been  reviewed  and  have  been  shown  to  be  nothing 
but  spurious  and  effusive  gush.  It  has  been  shown,  that  in  preparing  the 
opinions,  i)lain  and  well-settled  princiijles  of  law  have  been  disregarded. 
It  has  been  shown  that  no  constitutional  question  icas  involved  in  the  case,  or 
presented  to  the  court  for  decision. 

The  Judges  travelled  outside  of  the  case  and  dragged  iyi  the  consti- 
tutional question,  and  then  decided  it  on  purely  technical  grounds.  They 
not  only  assailed  the  validity  of  the  suffrage  law,  but  the  wisdom  and  policy 
of  such  a  law.  [As  though  the  people  have  not  as  much  wisdom  and  are 
not  as  competent  to  judge  of  a  pohcy  as  a  few  Masonic  shysters.']  That  in 
doing  so,  they  labored  to  uphold  the  doctrine  that  it  is  not  one  of  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  women  to  engage  in  such  professions,  occuiJations 
and  employments,  as  they  may  choose  for  a  livelihood,  and  went  so  far  as 
to  compliment  some  [masonic]  Judges  for  refusing  to  admit  a  woman  to 
practice  as  an  attorney  in  their  courts.  \_Nor  can  anybody  outside  of  the 
gang.] 

"It  has  been  shown  that  the  Judges  have  exercised  powers  exj^ressly 
reserved  by  Congress  in  the  organic  act,  and  that  they  have  overi'uled  de- 
cisions of  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States  and  of  other  courts. 

To  prove  this,  decisions  like  the  following  have  been  cited  : 

"Acts  of  the  Territorial  legislative  assemblies  are  vahd  until  disap- 
proved by  Congress." 

]\Iinros  bank  vs.  Iowa,  12  Hon.  1. 

"  Laws  passed  by  the  legislative  assembly  of  a  Territory,  and  approved 
by  the  Governor,  are  valid  and  operative  until  annulled  by  the  disapi^roval 
of  Congress. "     Territory  of  Wisconsin  vs.  Doty,  1  Pen.  396. 

It  has  also  been  shown  that,  in  order  to  give  plausibility  to  the 
opinions,  an  attempt  was  made  to  wipe  out  of  existence  laws  which  were 
upon  our  statute  books  very  long  before." 

[Such  flaws  are  made  in  laws  lyurposely  by  the  masonic  gang  for  an  in- 
direct tax  on  the  people  for  their  (the  gang's)  support.  Of  course,  they 
could  be  corrected  forthwith,  but  that  Avould  spoil  the  job  and  hurt  their 
business.      No  Judge  should  belong    to  a    secret    swoen  midmight 

brothebhood.] 

Complaints  of  Couet. 

"It  becomes  so  grave  a  matter  that  we  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning 
the  complaint  we  hear  against  the  district  court  just  closed  for  its  ineffi- 
ciency in  behalf  of  justice  and  fair  deahng  between  man  and  man.  They 
come  from  all  classes  of  people  in  this  county.  They  do  not  come  from 
defeated  litigants,  but  from  persons  who  have  no  ends  but  justice  to  serve 
in  their  animadversions,  severe  criticisms,  and  complaints  of  the  manner 
in  which  most  of  the  business  was  done.  It  is  surmised  that  money  [and 
masonry]  was  used  unlawfully  to  defeat  justice  in  its  metes  between  men. 


"The  Infamous  Decision."  453 

"Aside  from  such  intimations  and  declarations  as  are  referred  to,  we 
can  tnitlifully  say  we  have  never  lieard  so  many  complaints  filed  against 
one  Judge  and  his  [masonic]  coiu't  during  one  term.  All  this  complaint 
comes  from  the  turn  the  matters  of  litigation  took  before  the  coiirt  and 
juries  under  instructions  of  the  court.  We  call  attention  to  these  things 
so  the  matter  may  be  studied.  [It  is  practical  masonry  and  money 
mixed  together.]  We  have  no  doubt  the  people  from  their  standpoint 
have  just  grounds  of  comjalaint,  and  we  fear  no  good  will  come  from 
these  matters.  Good  men  and  women  do  not  hesitate  to  declare  the 
whole  court  was  a  farce,  and  another  Cincinnati  affair  with  the  riot  left 
out ;  and  only  the  good  sense  of  the  people  prevented  the  latter. 

Just  here  let  it  be  said,  there  is  too  lax  an  administi-ation  of  justice  all 
over  this  country.  There  is  too  much  sympathy  for  criminals  if  they  hap- 
pen to  have  money  [or  belong  to  the  gang]  while  a  poor  cuss  [or  outsider] 
is  punished  to  the  full  extent  of  the  law.  The  opinion  prevails  that  if  a 
man  has  money  [and  belongs  to  the  gang]  he  can  commit  any  crime  and 
go  unj)unished  almost  altogether.  It  is  a  dangerous  period  in  the  history 
of  a  country  when  the  people  loose  confidence  in  the  courts.  If  there 
was  a  prompt  execution  of  the  law  we  would  not  witness  or  hear  of 
people  taking  the  law  into  their  own  hands  to  mete  out  justice.  [Ma- 
soniy]  is  too  prone  to  evil  to  give  it  such  unbridled  license  as  it  now 
has." 

* 

"Judge  L. .  in  a  case  tried  before  him  held  the  insolvent  law  good,  re- 
versing Judge  W . .  and  giving  good  reason  for  so  doing.     [And  this  they 

call  "being  learned  in  the  law."] 

*  * 

* 

....  "Judge  J. .  exj)ressed  himself  as  strongly  opposed  to  the  resolu- 
tion, and  stated  that  for  years  the  district  court  had  been  run  in  the  interest 
of  a  few  [masonic]  attorneys,  and  stated  that  he  had  knowledge  of  such 
facts,  and  he  made  the  charge  advisedly. " 

* 
"It  seems  a  hard  matter  for  the  couri  here  to  get  a  legal  jury;  the 
prosecuting  attorney  had  the  Vetm-e  quashed  at  present  term  of  court  as 
he  did  in  February."     [And  so  the  brother  and  ex-J.  P.  was  "acquitted," 
this  is  a  common  trick  with  the  gang,  to  pack  juries.] 

* 
"Great  care  was  taken  in  selecting  a  Grand  Jury,  not  to  place  any- 
body on  the  lists  who  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Labor."  [Which 
is  hardly  a  secret  craft,  and  yet  members  of  the  sworn  secret  gangs  of 
an ti- working  masons  and  odd-fellows  are  j^ut  onto  juries,  and  even  as 
Judges,  to  try  and  judge  full-fledged  American  citizens.] 

* 
"  The  [masonic]   defaulter  has  been  arrested  at  Chicago.     Now  the 
question  arises,  who  wants  him  ?     The  county  cannot  afford  to  tax  her 
people  .§700  or  §800  to  send  after  him  and  then  pay  the  expenses  of  his 


454  CouETS  IN  Washington  and  Alaska, 

trial,  -nliicli  if  it  follows  tlie  course  of  some  of  the  trials  at  the  last  term  of 

court  "would  be  only  an  expensive  farce. "     [Had  he  not  belonged  to  the 

gang  how  different  would  have  been  the  cry  ?] 

*  * 

* 

' '  Our  delegate  exjiresses  the  fear  that  the  forfeiture  of  Northern 
Pacific  [masonic]  raih-oad  lands  vidll  involve  citizens  on  its  hne  in  pro- 
tracted and  costly  Htigation,  and  that,  therefore,  it  would  be  better  to  give 
the  lands  to  the  company.  This  is  in  effect  to  say  that  although  the  [gang] 
is  not  entitled  to  these  lands,  it  should  be  pennitted  to  hold  them,  because 
otherwise  it  -n-ill  i^ersecute  settlers.  It  is  a  strange  [masonic]  doctiine, 
and  in  this  day  and  generation  rather  a  bold  j^osition  to  take.  Because  a 
[gang]  wants  a  piece  of  the  jjubhc  domain,  private  citizens  [or  outsiders] 
must  stand  back,  with  bowed  heads,  and  meekly  give  way.  We  have 
heard  this  sort  of  threat  before.  Mr.  C.  P.  Huntington,  the  well-kno"mi 
letter  writer,  expressed  the  same  when  he  declared  that  if  Congress  passed 
a  bill  forfeiting  the  Texas  Pacific  grant,  his  [secret  gang]  would  'litigate 
the  question  in  the  [masonic]  courts  for  twenty  years. '  The  doctrine  then 
results  in  this  :  The  people  must  surrender  their  rights  on  demand  of  [a 
secret  gang] ,  or  be  subject  to  nithless  jDersecution  under  the  name  of  hti- 
gation."     [And  blacklegs  say,  "we  have  a  good  judiciary."] 

* 
. . .  ."Were  severally  indicted  for  the  crime  of  perjury,  committed  in 
making  final  proof  to  a  tract  of  land  [for  a  masonic  ring.  ]  said  defendants 
had  severally  appeared  before  probate  Judge,  and  made  oath  to  certain 
statements  in  relation  to  the  occuj^ancy,  imjDrovements,  etc. ,  of  the  said 
land,  and  which  statements  were  willfully  false.  The  defendants  by  their 
[masonic]  counsel,  filed  a  demuiTer  to  the  indictment  on  several  grounds, 
amongst  which  they  claimed  that  a  jDrobate  Judge  was,  under  the  law,  not 
a  person  to  administer  an  oath  in  such  cases,  and  that  the  crime  of  pei'juiy 
could  not  be  committed  in  taking  an  oath  before  such  an  officer.  After 
argument  by  three  of  the  [gang]  the  [masonic]  court  sustained  the 
demurrer  u^jon  the  above  named  ground,  and  the  actions  were  dismissed 
and  the  defendants  discharged  from  further  jDersecution.  This  case  has 
attracted  a  gi'eat  deal  of  attention,  and  one  of  the  defendants  had  been 
brought  back  from  New  York  [at  the  peojDle's  exi^ense  and  profit  to  the 
gang]  ujjon  a  warrant  issiied  upon  the  indictment,"  [which,  however, 
was  good  enough  to  send  other  men  to  the  penitentiary.] 

"To  the  peoi:)le  of  Lewis  county  we  will  say,  your  doom  is  sealed. 
Nearly  one-half  of  the  property  of  the  county  is  now  exemjjt  from  taxa- 
tion. You  have  not  even  the  right  to  apply  to  the  courts  for  a  redress 
of  your  grievances.  [The  masonic  rings]  •will  not  i^ay  taxes,  neither  can 
you  compel  them.  You  must  work  and  keep  the  taxes  on  your  jjroperty 
paid.  If  in  the  future  the  [masonic  rings]  demand  of  you  to  make  a  deed 
to  it  of  your  homes  without  consideration,  you  must  do  so,  jjaying  the 


Women  as  Jurors.  455 


scrivener's  fees  yourselves,  for   the  [masons]    are  all-powerful,  and  you 

dare  not  figlit  them." 

*  * 
* 

"  It  is  proper,  however,  to  say  that  at  common  law  the  courts  have 
always  had  j^ower  to  enforce  reasonable  charges  for  transportation,  and 
that  this  interstate  commission  act  therefore  asserts  no  power  that  did 
not  jireviously  exist.  Again,  this  law  forbids  discrimination,  though  the 
courts  have  always  had  power  at  common  law  to  punish  discrimination, 
and  require  the  carrier  to  charge  all  persons  who  engage  his  services 
equally  for  the  same  service. 

But  individual  efforts  to  enforce  these  principles  against  the  [masonic] 
raih'oads  have  long  since  been  abandoned  as  hopeless."  [Because  the  courts 
ai"e  prostituted  with  masonry.] 

*  * 

* 

"  Seattle  [then  a  town  of  8000  inhabitants]  has  a  court  docket  em- 
bracing 404  cases,  and  a  delinquent  tax  list  of  seven  columns  in  very  small 
type.  She  may  not  consider  it  a  matter  of  boast,  however,  as  did  the  boy 
who  felt  elated  because  his  father  had  a  mortgage  on  the  family 
mansion."  [But  the  Governor  boasted  that  it  teas  such  a  "good  field  for  the 
legal  fraternity  " — that  it  had  such  a  big  cancer.] 

*  * 

* 

"We  overheard  one  of  our  oldest  hardware  merchants  say  that  he  sold 
more  guns  the  last  day  of  court  than  he  has  during  the  entire  time  he  has 
been  in  business,  and  he  further  added,  that  almost  every  purchaser 
coupled  his  purchase  with  some  remark  about  the  failure  of  the  courts  to 
protect  life  and  property,  thus  comiielUng  men  to  take  measures  to  protect 

themselves. " 

*  * 
* 

[The  following  is  a  sample  of  how  the  masonic  coui-ts  protect  prop- 
erty.] "A  resident  of  this  county  borrowed  $25  from  certain  money- 
lenders in  April,  1884,  for  one  year  at  one  per  cent,  per  month.  Not  being 
able  to  meet  the  note,  suit  was  brought  against  the  party,  and  judgment 
obtained  for  the  amount  with  interest  amounting  to  $29  with  attorney's 
fees  at  $50;  costs  of  court,  $64.90;  to  this  must  yet  be  added  the  sheriff  s 
fees,  which  at  the  very  least  will  bring  the  total  to  $150,  or  $125  more 
than  the  original  debt;  and  yet  they  tell  us  [blacklegs  do]  there  is  justice 
in  this  free  land.     Shylock  died  too  young." 

*  * 
* 

"The  two  Indians  in  court  pleaded  guilty  of  attempting  to  rob 
[Blank]  of  fifty  cents;  [they  not  being  odd-fellows]  the  Judge  gave  them 
respectively  six  and  twelve  months  in  the  penitentiary. " 

[Though  the  Indians  plead  guilty]  "two  attorneys  of  this  place  will 
no  doubt  soon  advertise  a  horse  sale  of  the  animals  paid  them  for  defe)ise 
of  the  [above]  Indians,"  [which  Mas  all  right  with  the  Judge.  And 
Indians  are  blamed  for  not  embracing  such  a  system  and  civilization.] 


456  "The  Inr\mous  Decision.' 

"A  Seattle  lawyer  owns  about  10,000  acres  of  land  in  the  Palouse 
country."  [Wliich  represents /Zjo^  m?<c7i  liuman  naisery  and  pillage.  Yet 
he  is  puflfed  up  by  the  masonic  press  for  his  "success  and  many  acres," 
while  an  outsider  and  full-fledged  citizen  is  howled  down  as  a  hog  if  he  is 
even  wdlHng  to  honestly  earn  and  desires  more  than  160  acres  of  land.] 

■X-  * 

"In  the  case  of  the  United  States  vs.  [J.  Freemason]  and  others,  for 
defrauding  the  Government  of  pubHc  lands,  on  trial  this  week,  the  court 
sustained  the  demuiTer  to  the  indictment,  on  the  ground  that  the  means 
employed  in  defrauding  the  Government  were  not  sufficiently  stated  in 
the  indictment."  [I  will  inform  those  who  do  not  know  that  such  flaws, 
if  they  are  flaws  in  reahty,  are  done  by  prostituted  officials  of  prostituted 
courts,  by  ring  influence,  or  for  a  price,  or  both  together.] 
"A  Novel  Euling. 

Three  unimpeached  witnesses  swear  that  the  defendant  was  present 
and  committed  the  ofi'ense  charged.  The  defendant  swears  he  was  not 
there,  and  is  corroborated  by  his  brother,  a  small  boy.  Held  by  the 
court,  that  there  was  no  evidence  to  go  to  the  jury  upon  which  they  could 

find  a  verdict  of  guilty." 

*  * 
* 

"With  the  present  [1886]  prohibition  agitation  comes  a  desire  to  see 
the  already  Sunday  law  enforced.  Attempts  have  been  made,  and  how 
successful  they  have  been,  the  following  cii'cular  proves: 

'  Before  Justice  [Freemason] ,  Temtory  of  Washington  vs.  [one  of 
the  gang],  for  violation  of  Sunday  Law.' 

'  The  natural  query  would  arise,  how  is  such  a  verdict  possi- 
ble in  the  presence  of  such  testimony,  and  under  the  law  ?  It  can  only  be 
accounted  for  by  the  existence  of  [masonry  and  ciime]  in  the  courts.  The 
fact  was  estabhshed  that  the  saloon  was  opened  on  Sunday ;  that  a  brisk 
business  was  carried  on,  viz. :  twenty -eight  drinks  sold  in  the  course  of  an 
hour.  The  bartender  testified  that  he  tended  bar  that  day  besides  clean- 
ing out  the  saloon.  There  was  no  evidence  to  contradict  the  testimony 
for  the  prosecution. 

The  conclusion  that  a  candid  mind  must  come  to  is,  that  the  saloon 
[and  masonry]  is  supreme  in  its  influence  over  the  courts,  that,  while 
other  occupations  [and  men]  must  be  obedient  to  law,  here  is  an  occupa- 
tion [and  brotherhood]   that  rides  rough-shod  over  all  law,  whether  of 

God  or  man." 

*  * 
* 

"  The  jury  in  P . .  's  case  agreed  in  about  an  hour,  finding  him  guilty  of 
grand  larceny  as  charged.  When  P . .  's  case  was  called,  there  was  a  rumor 
in  court  that  he  had  fallen  heir  to  86,000  since  his  jailing  for  grand  larceny. 

P . .  was  brought  up  for  sentence.  Judge  [Mason]  stated,  that  in 
order  to  give  him  a  chance  to  reform,  he  would  impose  a  nominal  sentence: 
one  week  in  jail." 


CouKTS  IN  Washington  and  Alaska.  457 

[Why  are  not  those  who  do  not  have  $6,000  like^vise  "given  a  chance 
to  reform,"  if  the  courts  are  not  prostituted  ?] 

"Judge  [Mason]  sentenced  J.  L.  to  eleven  years  at  hard  labor  for 
grand  larceny. "     [He  didn't  have  $6,000] . 

*  * 
* 

"  The  prosecuting  attorney  asked  the  grand  jury  to  find  a  true  bill 
against  B . .  '  for  assault  with  intent  to  commit  murder, '  and  they  did  so. 
Instead  of  making  the  same  request  as  regards  M . . ,  who  was  the  most 
guilty,  and  who  drew  his  deadly  weapon  Jirst  and  shot  B. .,  he  simply 
asked  the  jury  to  find  a  bill  against  M . .  '  for  exhibiting  a  pistol  in  a 
threatening  manner.'    Is  this  equahty  ?" 

[And  yet  men  vote  for  ring  men  for  office.] 

* 
"  On  crossing  the  track  with  his  attention  diverted,  the  engine  started 
up  without  the  usual  warning,  and  ran  over  him.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  plaintiff's  testimony  the  [ring's]  attorney  moved,  that  the  case  be  non- 
suited, which  motion  was  granted  by  Judge  [Mason]  and  the  case  termin- 
ated."    [Where  is  such  a  victim's  recourse  ?] 

*  * 

"It  is  not  thought  the  commissioners  will  make  any  changes  in  the 
licenses,  as  they  have  been  '  advised '  that  by  pressing  the  matter  hard, 
they  would  involve  the  county  in  a  suit  which  would  certainly  result  in 
having  the  license  law  declared  unconstitutional,  there  being  a  flaw  some- 
where."    [To  be  pointed  out  and  declared  by  the  courts/or  a  price. '\ 

* 

"But  the  action  of  our  judiciary  in  the  premises  is  only  in  keeiDing 
with  innumerable  instances  of  coui-ts  throughout  the  country  in  setting 
aside,  upon  the  most  trivial  pretexts,  the  enactment  of  the  law-making 
power,  until  it  appears  the  most  carefully  devised  statutes  are  not  safe 
with  the  [masonic]  bench  and  bar  autocracy. " 

*  * 
* 

"We,  as  a  people,  are  getting  heartily  tired  of  the  legal  loop  holes  by 
which  red-handed  murderers  escape  punishment,  and  as  time  goes  on  ajjace 
these  methods  of  escape  ajjpear  to  grow  larger  and  larger.  The  law  has 
no  terror  for  the  [midnight  ring]  evil  doer,  and  unless  such  murderers  are 
summarily  dealt  with,  we  may  expect  to  see  that  class  go  on  unchecked." 

*  * 

■X- 

"  A  con'espondent  at  Sitka  does  not  think  the  estabHshment  of  a  court 
is  of  much  benefit  to  Alaska.  With  courts  come  lawyers,  and  with  law- 
yers suits. "  One  of  the  first  and  most  important  suits  imjoending  before 
the  newly  api^ointed  Judge  at  that  point  is  one  brought  by  some  of  the 
Bussian  residents  to  restrain  the  Home  for  Indian  Boys  and  Gii'ls  from 
using  certain  lands  appurtenant  to  its  buildings,  and  which  are  essential 
to  its  future  success.  This  coiTesjiondeut  thinks  tlie  school  is  of  more  value 
than  the  court.''''    [Certainly,  masonic  courts  will  be  a  curse  to  the  country.] 


458  Women  as  Jurors. 


"How  THE  Laws  are  Defied. 

If  some  future  historian  slionld  chance  to  write  a  history  of  Alaska 
from  its  cession  to  the  United  States  to  the  year  1885,  the  volume  would 
not  be  read  with  any  great  degree  of  pride  by  Americans.  Its  sale  would 
not  be  large.  If  a  truthful  history,  it  would  be  a  story  of  lawlessness  and 
defiance  of  law.  It  Avould  show  how  impotent  American  law  can  be,  and 
how  worthless  American  officials  can  be.  It  would  contain  nothing  to  ex- 
cite enthusiasm,  nothing  that  could  Avin  apj^roval.  It  would  tell  hoAV  a 
dominion,  sparsely  populated  but  an  empire  in  extent,  was  transferred  by 
Russia  to  the  United  States;  how  the  white  people  Avho  had  settled  within 
its  borders  were  vastly  outnumbered  by  the  natives  ;  how  the  latter  were 
harmless  and  no  danger  was  ajjprehended  from  them;  how  there  were 
strict  laws  against  selHng  hquor  to  them,  and  how  thoroiigldy  those  laws 
were  enforced.  Then  the  historian  might  commence  a  new  chapter  with 
an  account  of  how  the  Americans  took  possession  of  the  country  A\-ith  a 
tremendous  flourish  of  trumpets.  He  might  go  on  with  the  account  of 
how  the  seal  fisheries  Avere  farmed  out  to  a  wealthy  corporation  of  [free 
masons] ;  of  how  there  were  no  courts,  no  peace  oflScers. 

Then  he  might  tell  of  how  after  many  years  an  unsatisfactory  and  in- 
comjilete  government  was  gi-anted  the  country  ;  of  how  a  number  of 
federal  officials,  judicial  and  executive,  arrived  ;  of  how,  -ndth  their  com- 
ing, law  breaking  increased  rather  than  diminished  ;  and  of  how  they  dis- 
regarded and  connived  at  the  breaking  of  the  laws.  He  might  tell  how, 
instead  of  prosecuting  those  Avho  brought  liquor  into  the  Territory,  they 
encouraged  such  law  breaking  and  themselves  partook  openly  of  the 
liquor  which  should  not  have  been  in  the  country.  He  might  make  a 
fearful  arraignment  of  American  law  and  American  officials. 

To  one  who  knows  the  maddening  effect  of  liquor  upon  the  Northern 
Indian,  there  can  be  no  question  of  the  -udsdom  of  Congress  in  forbidding 
absolutely  the  importation  of  intoxicating  Hquors  into  Alaska.  In  a 
country  inhabited  by  about  a  thousand  white  men  surrounded  by  forty  or 
fifty  times  as  many  savage  and  semi-civilized  Indians,  there  is  danger  at 
any  time,  and  that  danger  is  especially  great  when  to  other  things  which 
might  at  any  time  provoke  hostilities,  is  added  the  power  of  intoxicants. 
A  barrel  of  whiskey  might  at  any  time  make  raving  maniacs  of  the  entire 
tribe  of  Alaska  Indians,  and  the  massacre  of  all  the  white  people,  residing 
in  that  particular  district,  might  easily  follow.  The  wisdom  of  the  pro- 
hibition, then,  cannot  be  doubted.  It  is  not  a  question  of  temi^erance,  or 
anti-temperance,  of  prohibition  or  anti-prohibition.  It  is  a  question  of 
whether  or  not  to  provide  for  the  safety  of  a  small  white  jjopulation  in  the 
midst  of  an  Indian  country.  Yet  it  is  a  notorious  fact  that  the  late  officials 
of  Alaska,  executive,  judicial  and  revenue,  allowed  liquor  to  be  brought 
into  Alaska,  and  openly  sold  without  making  the  slightest  efi'ort  to  restrain 
the  traffic.  Indeed,  it  is  equally  notorious  that  a  number  of  these  officials 
habitually  bought  liquors  by  the  drink.     When  asked  if  the  traffic  were' 


460  "The  Infamous  Decision." 

not  illegal,  their  answer  was  usually  a  laugh.  How  can  the  Indians  be  ex- 
pected to  resi^ect  laws  which  are  so  openly  \dolated  by  the  men  who  are 
sent  out  to  see  that  they  are  enforced  ? 

The  statement  innocently  made  by  a  Juneau  miner  recently  has  a 
whole  volume  of  meaning  in  it.  He  explained  the  state  of  aflfairs  by  say- 
ing :  '  Fonnerly  we  had  \'igilance  committees  and  compelled  the  store- 
keepers not  to  sell  liquor,  molasses  and  firearms  to  the  Indians,  but  now 
that  the  judges,  attorneys,  and  United  States  marshals  have  come,  we  are 
entirely  without  protection.  What  can  we  do  ? '  That  was  said  innocent- 
ly enough,  but  had  it  been  meant  for  sarcasm,  nothing  could  have  been 
keener.     Truly,  what  can  they  do  ? 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Courts  of  Oregon,  Montana,  anb  British  Columbia,  condensed  from 
the  Press,  unth  e.vpkmations,  etc. 

i  HE  revenue  of  the  county  is  absorbed  by  the  expenses  of  the  justices" 
courts,  very  few  even  of  those  most  interested,  and  whose  attention  has 
been  called  to  the  matter,  realize  the  enormous  amount  expended  in  pay- 
ment of  fees  and  expenses  in  these  courts. 

It  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  that  a  iJreUminary  examination,  result- 
ing in  the  committal  of  a  criminal  for  trial,  cost  the  county  several  hundred 
dollars,  [besides  what  is  often  bled  from  more  or  less  innocent  victims  by 
couii;  lawyers.] 

An  uninformed  observer  would  naturally  suppose  that  so  simjile  a 
matter  as  preferring  a  charge,  issuing  a  warrant,  a  brief  inquiry  into  the 
facts,  and  holding  the  accused  to  answer,  would  be  a  comjaaratively  inex- 
pensive proceeding,  but  the  fact  is  otherwise.  "When  to  the  amount  con- 
tributed by  the  county  for  the  maintenance  of  these  retail  justice  shoi^s  is 
added  the  cost  of  a  vast  amount  of  litigation  directly  encouraged,  if  not 
instigated  by  them,  the  aggregate  is  aj)palling. 

It  is  the  duty  of  taxpayers  to  make  a  diligent  inquiry  into  the  cause 
or  causes  of  this  state  of  affairs,  and  if  possible,  to  devise  a  remedy.  [The 
remedy  is  to  keep  the  gang  out  of  office.] 

There  is  great  competition  for  this  ruinous  business,  for,  while  each 
precinct  has  its  justice,  the  jurisdiction  of  the  said  justice  extends  over 
the  whole  county,  and  they  consequently  become  so  many  competing 
shops.  The  plaintiff  who,  out  of  the  entire  list,  selects  a  single  justice  [or 
is  a  brother  in  the  gang]  before  whom  to  bring  his  action,  is  a  customer 
entitled  to  consideration  and  is  rewarded  by  a  judgment  in  his  favor. 

Every  shyster  at  the  bar  has  his  favorite  justice,  and  exjjects  success  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  grist  he  can  bring  to  the  mill. 

Actions  are  brought  on  the  theory  that  the  plaintiff  [if  a  mason] 
always  wins,  which  never  would  stand  the  test  of  proof. 

Every  justice  has  his  constable  and  two  or  three  hangers-on  [all 
masons]  ready  to  be  sworn  as  specials,  all  actually  hunting  up  business 
for  then-  shop. 

The  fee  system  contributes  largely  to  the  present  state  of  affairs.  If 
the  justice  and  constable  had  each  a  salary  sufficient  to  compensate  them 
for  their  services,  and  fees  were  i^aidinto  the  treasury,  it  is  possible  that 
there  might  be  less  diUgence  in  creating  business,  but  in  all  probabiHty 
no  one  would  be  loser  thereby,  and  matters  in  which  justice  and  jrablic 
interests  are  really  involved  would  not  suffer  for  want  of  attention." 

(4C1) 


462   Courts  in  Oregon,  Montana  and  British  Columbia. 

"November  25th,  1886. 
To  the  Editoi'  : 

In  yoiu."  paper  you  seem  to  lament  that  certain  i^liases  of  tlie  proceed- 
ings in  regard  to  tlie  Balcli  cliildren  have  never  been  examined  in  court. 
Several  years  ago  those  points  were  presented  to  and  tirged  upon  the  cir- 
cuit and  sui^reme  courts  as  the  principal  points  in  the  then  pending  Balch 
case.  But  each  court  declined  to  pass  upor^  those  points,  though  pre- 
sented by  proper  pleadings,  in  a  proper  suit,  and  with  voluminous  testi- 
mony to  supi>ort  them.  The  circuit  court  went  so  far  as  to  decide  once 
on  the  case,  that  the  acts  complained  of  were  fraudulent,  but  it  afterwards 
went  back  of  this  decision  in  the  same  case,  and  threw  the  whole  case  out 
of  coui't  on  some  pretense  of  a  defect  in  the  pleading  which  had  never  been 
raised  or  suggested  by  the  attorneys  upon  either  side  in  the  case,  and  had 
never  been  previously  suggested  by  the  court,  though  a  second  argument 
of  the  case  was  had  in  the  same  court  by  the  court's  order.  On  ajjpeal  to 
the  supreme  court,  the  pretense  upon  which  the  case  had  been  thrown  out 
by  the  lower  court  was  deemed  so  trivial,  that  it  icas  never  mentioned  by  the 
court  or  attorneys  on  either  side." 

* 

"The  bank  thief  has  been  sentenced  to  a  term  of  one  year  in  the 
penitentiary.  Yesterday  the  ■wTctched  burglar,  who  entered  a  house  at 
night  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  extract  some  loose  change  from  the 
pockets  of  the  owner's  pants,  and  got  instead  a  well  deserved  charge  of 
buckshot  in  the  back  from  his  gun,  was  sentenced  to  a  period  of  nine 
years  in  the  penitentiary,  and  every  good  citizen  applauded  the  decision 
of  the  Judge.  To-day,  a  man  who  has  systemetically  stolen  for  a  period 
of  months,  until  the  sum  stolen  aggregated  several  thousand  dollars,  is 
given  one  year.  What  sort  of  pressure  and  how  much  of  it  to  the  square 
inch  was  brought  to  bear  uijon  Judge  [Mason]  ? 

"Judge  to  [odd-fellow]. — 'You  stand  charged  "nith  appropriating 
money  belonging  to  the  depositors  in  your  bank ;  are  you  guilty  or  not 
guilty.'  Odd-fellow. — 'Your  honor,  I  did  borrow  $9,000,  merely  to  spend 
on  a  pleasure  trip.'  Judge. — 'Only  borrowed  it?  I  thought  as  much; 
but  owing  to  our  miserable  laws,  I  will  "he  compelled  to  ask  you  to  change 
your  residence  to  Salem  for  one  short  year.  In  the  meantime,  before  your 
departure,  I  would  be  happy  to  have  you  call  and  take  dinner.'  " 

"Judge  [Midnight]  to  Worldngman. — '"Well,  sir,  you  are  charged 
with  attempted  burgiai-y,  what  have  you  got  to  say  ? '  " 

Workingman. — "Nothing,  your  honor,  but  that  I  had  been  sick  for  a 
long  time,  not  able  to  work,  and  my  wife  and  babies  were  staning.  I 
went  to  the  baker  shop  and  knocked  at  the  door,  intending  to  ask  the 
baker  for  a  loaf  of  bread.  Not  recei\-ing  any  answer  to  my  knock,  I  tried 
to  open  the  door  and  was  arrested." 

Judge. — "You  miserable  whelp,  you  are  guilty  of  the  ciime  of 
attempted  burglaiy.  I  sentence  you  to  the  penitentiary  for  nine  years. 
We  must  make  an  example  of  such  as  you.     The  coui't stands  adjourned." 


Courts  in  Oregon,  Montana  and  British  Columbia.   463 

"This  Question  awaits  an  answek. 

February  7th,  1887. 

To  the  Editor: 

Would  any  law  the  legislature  can  enact  have  any  effect  except  to  get 

up  big  suits,  so  long  as  the  [masonic]  ring  oicns  the  supreme  court,  and  one 

of  its  judges  is  the  ex-Govemor  under  whose  ruling  the  ring  gets  its  title?  " 

*  * 

* 

"Some  little  time  ago  H..  was  arrested  and  charged  with  entering 
the  house  of  B . .  with  burglarious  intent.  He  was  held  to  answer  before 
the  Grand  Jtuy,  which  body  indicted  him  on  a  charge  of  *  invading  the 
premises  Avith  the  object  of  committing  rape."  H. .  was  allowed  to  plead 
guilty  of  simi>le  assault,  and  was  fined  $50.  The  prevailing  opinion  of 
persons  who  claim  to  know  is,  that  there  never  ivas  anything  in  the  case. 
[To  simply  charge  an  innocent  person  with  such  a  crime  as  rajie,  bHndly 
prejudices  so  many  of  the  unthinking  cattle  against  him  that  with  a  j^^'os- 
tituted  court  and  press  he  can  easily  be  raih'oaded  through  to  prison  under  a 
long  sentence  for  pillage  or  revenge.  I  know  of  such  victims — one  per- 
sonally, with  a  large  family.  His  innocence  was  established  beyond  dis- 
pute; the  Avitnesses  against  him  recanted  and  fled  the  country;  the  peoj^le 
and  jury  petitioned  for  his  release.  His  masonic  Excellency  (the  Gov- 
ernor) was  playing  cards  and  drinking  whiskey  when  the  petition  was 
offered  to  him;  he  rejihed,  to  '  bring  it  to  his  oflScethe  next  day  when  he  had 
time  to  sj)end  on  such  business, '  at  which  time  he  said,  '  we  have  a  good 
judiciary,'  and  without  the  [masonic]  Judge  the  petition  is  worthless,  with 
the  [masonic]  Judge  I  will  '  consider'  it;  his  honor  (?)  declined  to  'inter- 
fere with  the  cause  of  justice, '  and  the  victim  is  left  to  langtiish  seven 
years  in  prison.  ] 

"Another  Investigation." 

"Witness  testified  that  Judge  [Links]  was  under  the  influence  of 
liquor  so  often  that  business  suffered;  had  seen  him  go  to  sleep  on  the 
bench  while  important  cases  were  being  heard.  The  delay  in  apjiointing  a 
successor  to  Judge  Links  cost  the  district  from  $75,000  to  $100,000,  and 
had  also  cost  the  Government  a  large  sum. 

Ex-Chief  Justice  Blank  was  also  before  the  committee;  he  testified  that 
Judge  Links  gambled  while  holding  a  term  of  coui-t;  that  he  played  poker 
for  money  one  Sunday  afternoon,  while  during  the  morning  of  the  same 
day  he  had  delivered  an  address  before  a  Sunday  school.  On  other  occa- 
sions he  played  '  stud '  poker  and  faro  for  money,  liquors  and  tUinks,  and 
had  been  at  a  dance  given  by  a  colored  woman  of  bad  repute,  and  was  fre- 
quently drunk  when  on  the  bench." 

[The  following  is  a  sample  of  the  proceedings  of  a  miners'  court  with- 
out any  law-books,  blackleg  'bar,'  or  other  needless  exi^ense.] 

"The  court  in  his  charge  to  the  jiuy  said  that  they  must  strip  the 
case  of  technicahties,  regarding  no  law  but  right  and  wi'ong,  no  test  but 
common  sense.     They  listened  with  approval,  and  at  once  proceeded  to 


464   Courts  in  Oregon,  Montana  and  British  Columbia. 

disagree  on  a  vital  point ;  some  -wanted  to  liang  Sim,  who  had  been  proven 
guilty  of  bribeiy,  Avhile  several  wanted  to  hang  Alcalde  Rogers.  This  dan- 
gerous phase  soon  passed  away  ;  the  jury  found  a  verdict  for  the  jjlaintiff, 
and  left  the  sentence  Anth  the  court,  where  it  evidently  belonged.  Judge 
Hayden  then,  amid  breathless  silence,  announced  his  decision — Sprenger 
was  to  be  reinstated  in  all  his  former  rights,  as  half  owner  of  the  cabin, 
tools,  proAasions  and  claim,  and  Sim  was  ordered  to  j^ay  the  costs  of  his 
jjartner's  sickness.     The  court  then  adjourned. 

But  some  of  the  evidence  ofiered  had  revealed  so  much  rascality  and 
malfeasance  on  the  part  of  Alcalde  Rogers,  that  none  of  the  miners  were 
satisfied  to  let  him  longer  hold  the  office  he  had  so  disgraced." 

"The  WAiiKER-TEAL  Case. 
James  D.  Walker,  a  citizen  of  San  Francisco,  loaned  to  B.  Goldsmith 
$100,000  for  which  he  gave  his  note,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

PoKTiiAND,  Oreg. ,  August  19th,  1874. 
Two  years  after  date,  without  grace,  for  value  received,  I  promise  to 
pay  James  D.  Walker,  or  order,  $100,000,  with  interest  theron  at  the  rate 
of  1  per  cent,  per  month  until  paid.  Interest  to  be  i)aid  monthly,  and  if 
there  be  default  in  payment  of  interest  for  the  period  of  twenty  days,  then 
the  whole  sum,  principal  and  interest,  shall,  at  the  option  of  the  holder  of 
this  note,  be  immediately  due  and  payable.     (Signed)     B.  Goldsmith. 

To  secure  this  note  Teal  and  Goldsmith  put  up  a  large  amount  of  real 
estate,  transferiing  it  to  Hewitt  as  trustee,  with  an  agreement  that  if  said 
note  became  30  days  overdue,  Hewitt  shall,  after  demanding  payment,  seU 
the  land  on  30  days'  notice.  At  the  end  of  two  years  (Aug.  19th,  1876), 
$96,750  of  the  note  remained  unpaid.  On  October  18th,  1876,  Goldsmith 
and  Teal  obtained  a  second  agi-eement  for  an  extension  of  time  for  one 
year  from  that  date  for  the  payment  of  the  note,  and  Teal  and  Goldsmith 
put  up  more  real  estate  as  before.  The  second  agi-eement  was  signed  by 
both  Teal  and  Goldsmith,  and  recited  the  first  agreement  and  note,  and 
provided  that  in  consideration  of  the  extension  G.  and  T.  "undertake  and 
agree  that  the  said  G.  will  jjromptly  pay"  the  interest  when  due  and  the 
l^rincipal  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  that,  in  default  of  payment  of  i^rin- 
cii^al  or  interest,  the  whole  debt  shall  become  due,  as  jsrovided  in  the  fifst 
agreement  and  note  {i.  e.  the  principal  being  unpaid  at  end  of  the  year 
Hewitt  shall,  when  it  is  30  days  over  due,  sell  on  30  days'  notice;  and  if 
the  interest  be  in  default,  whole  debt  to  be  due  at  tJie  oj)tion  of  Walker.) 
The  agreement  then  declares — that  Walker  agrees  to  extend  the  time  for 
payment  of  the  principal  and  interest  one  year  or  until  default  in  j^ayment 
of  interest,  and  no  longer;  but  if  default  be  made  in  j^ayment  of  interest, 
the  whole  debt  with  then  accrued  interest  '  shall  become  due  and  payable 
as  iyi  said  note  specified,'  (i,  e.  at  Walker's  option.)  'It  is  distinctly  under- 
stood and  agreed  by  the  parties  hereto,  that  the  agi'eement  of  August  19th, 
1874,  is  not  annulled,  vacated  or  set  aside  by  the  execution  of  this  agree- 


Courts  in  Oregon,  Montana  and  British  Columbia.   465 

ment,  except  in  so  far  as  tlie  same  may  conflict  vith  this  agreement;  in  all 
other  respects  the  two  instrameuts  are  to  be  taken  and  constiiied  together. ' 
Default  was  made  in  the  payment  of  interest  Jan.  21st,  1877.  Plain- 
tiflfs  commenced  suit  to  foreclose  Sei^t.  26th,  1877,  one  month  before  the 
year  exjjired,  in  the  exercise  of  their  option.  Defendant  (Teal)  claimed 
Ms  i^roperty  was  discharged  because  Hewitt  and  Walker  did  not  commence 
to  sue  him  soon  enough;  and  also  claimed  that  he  was  not  a  guarantor  of 
the  note  under  said  contracts.  Boise  held.  Teal's  property  was  bound;  but 
Kelly  and  Prim  decided  that  the  iJroi:xei"ty  was  discharged  from  paying  the 
debt,  because  Walker  did  not  commence  siiit  against  Teal  and  Goldsmith 
soon  enough.     By  which  decision  Walker  lost,  perhaps,  §50,000." 

"It  is  not  a  little  smgular  that  all  these  decisions  are  made  practically 
to  favor  the  vicious  and  the  criminal.  There  is  not  one,  we  venture  to 
say,  among  all  the  decisions  of  our  Supreme  Court,  that  has  rendered 
justice  more  certain  or  more  decisive.  These  technicalities  are  always 
found  to  favor  the  side  of  injustice  \and  Masonri)],  always  tend  to  override 
equity,  are  always  found  to  shield  [hnked]  criminals  from  the  just  punish- 
ment of  criminaHty. 

This  kind  of  thing  will  doubtless  make  lynching  more  frequent." 

"Money,  Masonky,  and  a  Sandbag. 
Bridget  Blank  is  happy  now,  and  can  boast  of  being  the  first  woman 
who  has  went  from  the  United  States  to  the  Queen's  dominions  and  run  a 
Jury  to  suit  herself.  Bridget  and  her  husband  went  to  Victoria  some  time 
ago  to  reside.  She  then  left  her  husband  there,  to  attend  to  business, 
while  she  came  to  P.  to  look  after  her  interests  here.  A  few  days  after 
she  left,  her  husband  killed  a  man  with  a  sand-bag.  He  was  arrested,  and 
Bridget  was  notified  of  the  fact.  It  did  not  take  her  long  to  act.  She 
quietly  gathered  up  $30,000  of  her  accumulated  wealth,  and,  boarding  a 
steamer,  announced  her  intention  to  clear  her  husband,  if  it  took  evei'y 
cent  of  it.  The  charge  of  the  Jiidge  to  the  Jury  was  almost  um-easonably 
strong,  but  notwithstanding  that  fact  a  verdict  of  'Not  guilty'  was  brought, 
which  so  exasi^erated  the  Judge,  that  he  ordered  the  prisoner  turned  loose 
and  adAised  him  to  'sandbag  the  Jury,'  much  to  the  amusement  of  Bridget, 
who  ccSyishly  closed  one  of  her  eyes,  and  remarked  soto  voce  that  Ireland 
had  made  one  portion  of  the  Queen's  dominion  very  tired,  that  she 
knew  of." 


30 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  Courts  and  laws  of  CaiiIfoknia  and  the    States,  ccmdensed  from 
the  Press,  xoith  explanations,  etc. 

JDLANK  has  been  found  not  guilty"  by  the  jury.  It  has  come  to  this. 
A  man  of  friends  and  influence  may«  deliberately,  without  cause  or  provo- 
cation, shoot  his  fellow-man  down  upon  the  streets,  and  then  come  before 
the  courts  of  this  country,  stand  a  mock  trial,  and  go  free.  This  is  why 
mob  law  prevails  to  such  an  alarming  extent  in  our  land.  It  is  a  fearful 
thought.  Just  as  certain  as  there  is  a  world,  things  are  getting  into  an 
appalling  shape.  That  the  kilHng  was  dehberate  murder,  we  believe  no 
man  doubts.  And  yet  he  is  acquitted  by  a  jury  of  twelve  [masonic]  men 
acting  under  solemn  oaths.  "We  believe  these  fellows  to  be  perjiired 
scoundrels  and  detestable  hypocrites,  whose  disgraceful  cond^^ct  is  a  burn- 
ing, blistering  shame  upon  the  j^eople  of  the  United  States  and  our  com- 
mon humanity  everywhere.  This  is  past  endiirance,  it  must  be  corrected, 
or  the  fall  of  our  institutions  is  inevitable." 


"  The  supreme  court  of  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union,  including 
California,  can  interfere  in  murder  cases  between  sentence  and  execution, 
and  grant  a  stay  of  proceedings,  review  the  case,  and  send  it  back  for  trial 
over  again  on  &om.e  flimsy  pretext  or  technicalitt/.  These  loopholes  are  very 
convenient  to  [masonic  homicides].  The  law  makes  the  bench  of  the 
supreme  court  both  Judge  and  jury,  and  this  has  often  led  to  exasperating 
delays  of  justice.  The  case  of  H. .,  one  of  the  murderers  in  the  county 
jail,  is  an  illustration  of  the  force  and  sinister  effect  of  legal  technicalities. 
He  has  been  tried  three  times,  and  on  the  first  trial  was  convicted  of  a 
most  brutal  and  revolting  homicide.  Yet  on  the  flimsiest  of  legal  quibbles 
the  supreme  court  reversed  the  decision  of  the  sujoerior  court  and  re- 
manded the  case  for  trial  again,  and  now  nearly  four  years  have  elapsed, 
and  still  the  man  is  wearying  justice  and  menacing  the  moral  sentiment  of 
the  community  he  has  outraged.  And,  as  is  usual  when  such  cases  are 
remanded  [for  a  big  price  or  secret  influence^ ,  two  subsequent  trials  have 
resulted  in  jury  disagreements.  "Witnesses  have  disai^j^eared,  public  in- 
terest in  the  case  has  partially  died  out,  and  the  ghastly  crime,  which  at 
first  caused  a  shudder  of  abhorrence,  has  become  almost  a  reminiscence.  It 
is  not  surjirising  that  in  view  of  facts  Hke  these,  the  better  classes  are  dis- 
gusted with  the  operation  of  the  [masonic]  machinery  of  our  so-called 
courts  of  justice." 

"  Confession  of  guilt  not  suflicienl. — M.  "W.,  who  has  been  under  trial 
for  i^erjury,  was  acquitted  to-day.  The  jury  was  out  only  fifteen  minutes. 
Much  surprise  is  expressed  [by  outsiders]  at  the  verdict,  as  M.  "W.  con- 

(466) 


Courts  in  Califoenia  and  the  States.  467 

fessed  having  perjured  herself,  but  the  jury  acquitted  on  the  ground  that 
the  statement  of  guilt  was  not  estabhshed." 

In  the  district  court,  this  afternoon,  Freemason,  charged  with  miu'der, 
who  had  been  on  trial  a  week,  was  acquitted  by  the  jury.     It  appears  that 

the  murdered  man  called  Mason  the  usual  western  pet  name,  a  "  s of  a 

1) ."    The  jiiry  in  its  report*decided  that  a  fellow,  who  called  another 

such  a  name,  deserved  killing  on  general  i^rinciples.  [But  had  Mason  been 
killed  for  the  same  thing  by  a  Christian,  the  courts  would  have  called 
it  a  "cold-blooded  murder."] 

"In  a  recent  case  where  there  was  a  flagrant  miscarriage  of  justice, 
the  Judge  told  the  jiiry  that  'they  had  violated  their  oaths  and  had 
disregarded  the  testimony,  and  that  a  jury  composed  of  Indians  would 
have  done  better  than  they.'" 

"The  graders  of  the  S.  P.  E.  E.  were  suddenly  brought  to  a  stand- 
still last  Wednesday  by  J.  H.  Moore,  upon  whose  land  they  were  tres- 
passing. Moore  appeared  with  a  Winchester  rifle  and  a  revolver,  while 
several  of  his  farm  hands  were  armed  -udth  a  variety  of  guns.  Negotia- 
tions are  now  pending  between  the  proprietor  of  the  ranch  and  the  rail- 
road, and  if  the  right  of  way  cannot  be  bought,  the  entire  ranch  wdll 
be  purchased."  \^Tliis  was  his  only  recourse,  as  the  courts  are  sheer  tools  of 
the  masonic  R.  R,  Co.^ 

"Further,  the  influence  of  the  railroad  corjDorations  at  the  land- 
oflfice  in  Washington  has  been  a  paramount  influence,  no  matter  under 
lohat  administration  or  tvho  teas  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  [Just  so  he  was 
a  mason  with  whom  the  brethren  could  secretly  and  safely  trade.]  The 
first  extraordinary  advantage  gained  was  in  1857,  when  Black  was  at- 
torney-general, on  the  apiihcation  of  certain  raih'oad  companies  for 
certified  lists  of  then-  lands  before  the  lands  were  earned.  The  attorney- 
general  held,  that  these  hsts  could  properly  be  furnished.  What  next  ? 
Later,  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  held,  that  a  complete  legal  title  was 
conveyed  by  such  certified  hsts,  and  that  they  were  equivalent  to  patents 
and  that  he  could  not  review  the  acts  of  his  predecessors !  This  was  a 
shori  way  of  disposing  of  some  extra  million  acres  of  land  which  had 
never  been  earned,  but  of  which  the  country  was  plundered.  The  poAver 
of  these  [masonic]  corporations  has  been  a  controlling  power,  not  only 
in  securing  exti-aordinary  grants  of  land,  but  in  the  successful  retaining 
of  immense  areas  of  land  after  their  forfeiture. 

They  have  invariably  succeeded  in  their  claims  against  the  Govern- 
ment in  all  controversies  touching  their  land  grants,  where  the  Govern- 
ment, or  those  holding  iinder  the  Government,  were  parties.  This  is  a 
broad  statement,  biit  the  reader  need  only  to  look  back  to  the  record  for 
the  last  thirty  years  to  verify  its  truth.  In  other  words,  the  [inasons^  have 
controlled  in  the  land-office,  in  the  interior  department,  in  the  law  departvient, 
and  in  the  legislature.  The  Indian,  who,  as  the  fable  runs,  expressed  his 
three  wishes  by  demanding,  first,  all  the  rum  in  the  world  ;  second,  all  the 


468  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

tobacco  in  the  world  ;  third,  more  mm:  faintly  shadowed  forth  the  raven- 
ous greed  of  those  [midnight]  monsters.  The  [secret]  powers  which  con- 
trol at  the  seat  of  Government,  also  control  the  special  legislation  in  a  ma- 
jority of  the  States.  I  do  not  now  speak  of  what  is  termed  corruiDt  influ- 
ence, that  is,  the  influence  of  unblushing,  direct  bribery.  I  refer  to  the 
influence  of  [masonic]  jyower,  that  sort  of  power  which  should  alarm  every 
one  of  us.  For  it  compasses  society  ;  it  has  to  do  with  every  small  and 
large  town  and  village ;  its  connections  are  unbroken. 

Put  yourself  in  opposition  to  this  power  and  you  will  quickly  com- 
prehend me.  Kesist  in  the  courts  an  illegal  encroachment  on  your 
l^roperty  ;  bring  suit  for  damages  for  injury  to  certain  vested  rights ; 
endeavor  to  restrain  from  a  cruel  and  inexcusable  tresjjass,  and  you 
will  speedily  find  youi-  proceedings  ciippled  by  interlocutory  motions, 
by  temporary  injunctions,  by  dilatory  orders,  until,  unless  you  have 
both,  money  to  pay  for  the  defense  against  these  harassing  methods  [of 
prostituted  courts]  and  the  courage  to  continue  ["twenty  years"]  to  the 
end,  you  will  abandon  the  attempt  to  maintain  your  rights,  or  j^erhaps 
accept  some  humihating  sum  as  a  compromise,  which  does  not  even 
serve  to  defray  your  legal  expenses.  This  is  an  eveiy  day  experience. 
They  are  grasping,  deceitful,  and  unscrupulous.  No  court  or  legislatui'e 
will  interfere  to  check  the  career  of  [masonic]  corporations  more  power- 
fid  than  coiu-ts  or  legislatures,  [midnight  rings] ,  ever  vigilant,  ever  active, 
■«ith  a  legal  machinery  perfect  in  every  appliance,  and  a  treasury  in- 
exhaustible. 

It  is  impossible,  to  properly  characterize  the  methods,  or  to  jjicture 
the  widespread  distress  caused  by  them.  The  histoiy  of  the  past  years 
is  filled  full  of  these  unhappy  illustrations,  and  they  are  so  glaring,  that 
it  seems  incredible  the  country  does  not  take  the  alarm." 

"Blank,  charged  with  the  murder  of  0..,  was  to-day  acquitted  by 
the  jury.  The  alleged  cause  of  the  killing  of  C . .  is  stated  to  be  that 
he  was  on  terms  of  criminal  intimacy  with  Blank's  wife."  [Which 
always  acquits  a  mason  or  odd-fellow. \ 

' '  A  murderer  hanged. 

C . .  was  hanged  here  to-day  for  the  murder  of  Blank,  The  crime 
for  which  C . .  suffered  death  was  the  murder  of  Blank,  who  had  threatened 
to  kill  C . .  on  different  occasions,  and  had  been  criminally  intimate  with 
his  wife."  But  this  is  no  legal  excuse  for  an  outsider  against  one  of  the 
gang.] 

"July  2nd, — Blank,  charged  with  intent  to  kUl,  has  been  acquitted. 
Friends  of  good  government  think  that  a  moneyed  [or  masonic]  man 
cannot  be  convicted  of  murder." 

"But  the  gUded  [mystic]  hand,  which  shoves  by  justice,  must  not  be 
strengthened  by  multiplying  mihtia  regiments — the  i^eople  will  not  stand 
that — but  by  stojjping  the  traffic  in  juries,  and  by  such  an  administration 
of  just   and  legal   laws  as    shall  meet   the   approval   of   the   masses   of 


Courts  in  California  and  the  States.  469 

mankind  in  whose  instincts  justice  has  its  safest  and  strongest  earthly- 
throne.  " 

"Ex-chief  Justice  David  S.  Terry,  who  has  been  the  chief  counsel  for 
his  ■«-ife  dui'ing  the  entii'e  litigation  [of  many  years,  wherein  one  Judge 
wouhl  decide  one  way,  and  another  the  opposite,  and  perjury  was  openly 
and  confessedly  practised  without  rebuke  or  punishment],  was  present 
Mith  his  wife  to-day,  Sept.  3rd,  1888,  in  court  to  hear  the  reading  of  an- 
other decision.  ^Taen  Judge  Blank  was  about  half  through  reading,  Mn;. 
Terry  jumped  to  her  feet  and  asked  the  Judge  if  he  was  going  to  order 
her  to  give  up  the  contract  [of  her  former  marriage  with  Sharon  and  which 
had  been  declared  valid  by  two  courts].  Judge  Blank  told  her  to  sit  do-mi. 
Mrs.  TeiTy's  face  turned  white  with  passion  and  she  cried,  '  Justice  Blank, 
we  hear  thai  t/ou  have  been  bought!  We  would  like  to  know  if  that  is  so 
and  what  figures  you  hold  yourself  at.  It  seems  that  no  jjerson  can  get 
justice  in  this  court,  unless  he  has  a  sack.' 

Judge  Blank  told  a  marshal  to  '  remove  that  woman  from  this  court 
room.'  The  marshal  grasped  her  arm,  and  in  an  instant  Judge  Teny 
arose  and  exclaimed  that  no  Uving  man  should  touch  his  wife.  With  this 
he  dealt  the  marshal  a  terrible  blow  on  the  neck  ■w'ith  his  fist,  which  sent 
him  across  the  floor. 

Then,  with  several  deputies  and  by-standers,  Teny  was  removed. 
Mrs,  Terry  was  also  taken  from  the  room  and  locked  in  the  marshal's 
office. 

A  dejjuty  was  placed  at  the  door,  when  Teny  advanced  upon  him  and 
demanded  admission,  which  the  deputy  refused.  Teny  put  his  hand  in 
his  pocket  and  drew  forth  a  dangerous  looking  dirk  with  a  blade  eight 
inches  long,  and,  with  a  curse,  held  it  above  his  head  and  declared  he 
would  stab  any  man  who  tried  to  keep  him  away  from  his  wife.  Terry 
was  then  locked  in  the  room  with  his  -wife. 

A  satchel,  which  Mrs.  Terry  had  dropjjed  in  the  court  room  duiing 
the  excitement,  was  found  to  contain  an  Enghsh  buU-dog  revolver  with  all 
six  chambers  loaded.  She  was  turning  to  open  the  satchel  just  before  she 
was  put  out  of  the  court  room. "  [If  the  courts  are  not  reformed  with 
anti-mason  ballots,  lead  and  steel  will  be  resorted  to  by  victims,  who  will 
be  upheld  by  the  people.  ] 

"The  case  of  Mrs.  Myra  Gaines,  has  now,  after  about  forty  years  in 
the  courts,  been  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court  in  her  favor  for  nearly  two 
milhous  of  dollars.  The  decisions  of  the  courts  below  were  also  in  her 
favor.  She  has  spent  a  large  fortune  and  a  life-time  on  this  suit,  which 
nothing  but  some  egregious  defect  in  the  legal  system  or  some  criminal 
compUcity  on  the  part  of  the  [Masonic]  courts  could  have  kept  so  long 
from  a  final  decision.  And  now  the  intention  is  to  caiT}'  the  case  by  some 
extraordinary  alleged  right  of  apjaeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  where  it  could  not  be  reached  in  less  than  five  years,  and  that  at 
enormous  expense. 


470  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

The  prospect  for  a  woman  near  four-score,  and  well  worn  out  both  in 
purse  and  mind  by  long  litigation,  is  not  bright;  and  the  question  what 
such  laws,  as  have  permitted  all  these  delays,  are  worth,  is  a  pertinent 
one.  The  case  is  aggi-avated,  if  jjossible,  by  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Gaines  is 
exceedingly  liberal  and  charitable,  and  means  to  bestow  her  means,  when 
recovered,  in  founding  and  supporting  institutions  for  the  benefit  of  the 
working  classes  and  the  jjoor.  She  is,  in  fact,  the  Peter  Cooper  of  New 
Orleans." 

' '  Mrs.  Gaines  is  a  beautiful  example  of  the  effects  of  the  legal  system. 
Recently  a  decision  has  been  rendered  in  her  favor,  but  even  if  it  could  be 
carried  out,  she  declares  it  would  not  benefit  her,  as  all  her  interest  has 
been  absorbed  by  a  syndicate  of  lawyers  and  speculators.  [A  secret  gang 
required  by  jjrostituted  courts.]  In  other  words,  she  is  in  the  same  boat 
with  McGarrahan  and  many  other  veterans,  who  have  spent  years  in  j^ush- 
ing  their  claims,  only  to  find  in  the  end  that  the  lawyers  and  [Masonic] 
lobbyists  [that  blackleg  ofiicials  compel  an  aiijDHcant  for  justice  to  employ 
and  load  with  money,]  come  in  for  any  coin  that  may  be  secured. "  [Is 
such  a  system  of  robbery  any  better  than  anarchy  ?] 

"There  are  860  superfluous  words  in  every  deed,  and  1240  in  every 
mortgage;  and  the  people  of  NejvYork  pay  every  year  $100,000  for  the 
recording  of  superfluous  words." 

"In  February,  1870,  the  Supreme  Coui-t  of  the  U.  S.  decided  that 
Congress  had  no  power  to  make  United  States  notes  a  legal  tender  for  jDre- 
existing  debts,  and  the  reasoning  of  that  opinion  was  to  the  effect  that  the 
legal  tender  acts  were  unconstitutional. 

After  changes  in  the  membershijD  of  the  court,  it  decided,  that  Congress 
had  jjower  to  make  United  States  notes  a  legal  tender  for  debts  contracted 
both  before  and  after  the  passage  of  the  acts.  These  conflicting  oiDinions 
diminish  confidence  in  the  court;  any  party  in  control  of  Congress  and  the 
Executive  can  procure  any  decision  by  increasing  the  number  of  the 
Judges,  and  'packing  the  coixrt.'"  [Would  not  a  court,  composed  of 
plain,  honest  men,  be  better  than  professional,  technical  gentry,  so  "learn- 
ed in  the  law  "  that  they  cannot  agree  as  to  what  it  means,  and  make  of 
the  courts  a  secret  jugglery  to  gamble  with,  so  that  we  have  no  security  in 
person  or  property.] 

What  the  Courts  Chaege  to  Settle  a  Matter  of  $50. 

"The  case  has  been  tried  five  times,  and  each  time,  exeejit  one,  he 
has  received  a  verdict  for  from  $3, 000  to  $7, 500,  which  was  always  set  aside. 
He  ajDpealed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  verdict  has  been  reversed, 
giving  him  no  damages.  The  court  costs  are  now  $3,300,  while  the  other 
expenses  on  both  sides  amount  to  at  least  $20,000  [a  tribute  to  the  court 
gang,]  and  several  i")arties  have  been  ruined  by  the  expenses  of  the  case. 
The  value  of  the  calves  was  $50." 

[And  blacklegs  say,  we  have  a  "Good  Jiidiciaiy. "] 

"Rumors  that  the  Jury   had   been  'fixed'  in  the  interest   of  the 


Courts  in  California  and  the  States.  471 

[Masonic]  defendants  brouglit  tlie  case  to  a  standstill.  Four  men  liad 
been  slii^ped  into  the  box  [by  the  Masonic  Sheriff],  who  should  never 
have  been  admitted.  They  belonged  to  the  same  Masonic  lodge  as  de- 
fendants." [With  Masonic  officials,  what  ghost  of  a  show  has  a  Christian 
for  eqnal  justice?] 

"  A  Judge  has  been  foimd  in  Iowa  to  diive  the  traditional  coach  and 
six  through  the  new  law  on  purely  technical  grounds,  and  when  it  had  been 
so  thoroughly  discussed  and  adopted  by  so  large  a  majority  of  the  people." 

[If  the  courts  were  honest,  they  would  pass  on  bills  before  the  Legis- 
latui-e  adjourned,  if  at  all.  But  why  should  two  or  three  Masons  override 
the  ■\\ill  and  mature  judgment  of  a  large  majority  of  the  lieojjle,  whose 
servants  officials  are  supposed  to  be  ?] 

"The  first  star  route  trial  lasted  three  months,  the  second  six  and  a 
half.  The  cost  of  both  trials  has  been  about  half  a  million  to  the  Govera- 
ment.  One  lawyer  got  $60,000,  another  $40,000,  and  another  $34,000. 
Next  to  the  original  steal  and  the  [Masonic]  verdict  of  acquittal,  these  fees 
are  the  biggest  scandal  of  the  whole  disgraceful  business. " 

[One  of  the  gang  pfeacZ  guilty,  and  yet  all  were  acquitted. 
Of  course,  the  "  trial "  was  a  farce,  done  by  ]\Iasons  for  a  blind 
(as  though  they  would  punish  and  send  to  prison  their  breth- 
ren for  robbing  other  people),  and  to  steal  a  half  million  more 
in  court  expenses.] 

"What  Anti-Mason  Judges  can  do. 

"  To  three  lawyers  who  put  in  bills  amounting  to  $25,000  for  services 
in  settling  an  estate  worth  $32,000,  Judge  Thomas  Dmmmond  said:  *  You 
have  charged  $25,000  for  sixty  days'  services.  These  charges  are  infamous. 
They  are  such  as  men  who  are  scovmdrels  and  thieves  at  heart  would 
make.  This  charge  of  $15,000  is  cut  down  to  $1500.  Those  of  $5000 
each  to  $500.  Kepeat  such  a  piece  of  rapine  in  this  coiu't  and  I  will  dis- 
bar every  one  of  you.'  We  trust  that  other  Judges  will  imitate  the 
examjjle  of  Judge  Drummond,  and  repulse  those  legal  pirates  who  iilun- 
der  estates  and  often  reduce  their  clients  to  jiemu-y."  [But  when  Judges 
ai'e  brother  Masons  to  these  "  scoundrels,  thieves  and  pirates,"  tliey  stand  in 
together  to  jjrostitute  the  courts  against  the  people.  And  when  Judges  are  ap- 
pointed by  ling  dignitaries,  these  blacklegs  are  the  gentry  they  choose 
from.] 

"While  evidence  against  the  star  route  contractors  and  public  officials 
was  strong  and  conclusive  as  to  guilt,  and  the  Government  was  defrauded 
of  large  sums,  and  large  sums  of  money  were  expended  to  secure  indict- 
ments, yet  no  jierson  was  convicted  or  punished,  and  no  civil  suits  have 
been  instituted  to  recover  the  vast  sums  illegally  and  fraudulently  obtained 
from  the  public  treasury." 

"A  young  la^vyer  went  through  town  driving  a  portion  of  his  fii-st 


472  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

law  fee — a  yearling  steer.     The  fee  consisted  of  $8.00  in  money,  a  stack  of 
fodder,  a  silver  Avatch,  au  old  sow  and  the  yearling. " 

[Perliaps,  all  the  poor  devil  had.  If  the  courts  were  not 
the  swindling  shops  that  they  are,  they  would  not  require  the 
employment  of  these  pirates  at  all.  The  court  clerk  would  do 
ivlmt  formal  ivriting  ivas  necessary,  and  the  parties  coidd  make  known 
their  own  cases.  For  example,  who  knew  her  case  or  could  make  it 
known  to  others  better  than  Mrs.  Gaines,  after  forty  years  ex- 
perience with  it?  And  she  was  willing  and  sometimes  did  j)lead 
her  oion  cause.  Yet,  to  have  any  influence  with  Masonic  ridden 
courts,  she  was  compelled  to  employ  a  whole  gang  of  Masonic 
pirates,  with  whom  the  brethren  could  secretly  and  safely  trade.] 

"The  time  has  come  for  a  general  leveling  up  with  respect  to  the 
jury  service,  and  a  thorough  revision  of  the  laws  relating  thereto  seems 
imijeratively  demanded.  The  people  will  not  tolerate  much  longer  such 
miscarriages  of  justice  as  have  recently  been  -witnessed  in  various  jjarts  of 
the  country."  [Let  it  be  made  illegal  for  any  official  to  belong  to  any  seo'et 
sioorn  brotherhood. ] 

"  Hardly  a  day  passes  without  a  legal  decision  which  is  contrary  to 
reason  and  common  sense.  The  Scottish  American  Company  has  loaned 
some  milKons  of  dollars  in  Chicago  and  vicinity.  On  attempting  to  fore- 
close iipon  a  piece  of  proj)erty,  the  defendant  set  up  the  plea  that  'there 
was  no  such  company  in  existence.'  After  weeks  delay,  a  certified  copy  of 
the  Edinburg  ceii;ificate  of  incorporation  was  offered  in  evidence  of  the 
bona  fide  existence  of  the  company.  A  day  or  two  ago  the  court  decided 
that  this  was  insufficient,  and  when  asked  what  would  be  sufficient,  repHed 
that  '  he  did  not  know. '  To  an  outsider  it  would  appear  that  a  company 
which  had  '  existence '  enough  to  lend  some  millions  of  dollars,  had 
existence  enough  to  foreclose  uj^on  its  securities  in  case  of  defaidt.  But 
it  seems  not."     [Is  such  jugglery  honest  ?] 

"Less  than  half  the  number  of  Judges  necessary  to  the  5,000,000  of 
peoi^le  of  the  State  of  New  York  is  sufficient  for  nearly  five  times  the 
number  of  ijeoi^le  in  England. " 

"The  case  of  B. .  (colored)  on  trial  for  marrying  a  white  girl. — B. . 
was  found  guilty,  and  given  the  full  penalty  of  the  law.  The  only  other 
case  under  this  law  was  dismissed,  the  Judge  holding  the  law  unconstitu- 
tional."    [Is  that  equal  justice  ?] 

"The  man  arrested  for  steahng  a  horse  was  discharged  because  he 
proved  that  he  was  drunk  when  he  took  the  animal."  [But  that  does  not 
acquit  an  outsider.] 

"When  N. .  was  acquitted  of  murder,  it  was  on  the  gi-ound  of  insan- 
ity. He  was  then  brought  m^  for  examination  as  to  his  mental  condition 
and  pronounced  sane,  after  which  f ormular  he  was  released.    All  of  which 


CouETs  IN  California  and  the  States.  473 

is  an  exhibition  of  legal  jugglery  and  humbuggeiy, "  [At  the  expense  of 
the  people.] 

"The  riot  is  but  the  shadow  of  the  events  that  must  follow  such 
farcial  administration  of  our  laws  as  occasioned  the  riot.  It  was  jilain 
that  the  expenditure  of  a  few  thousand  dollars  [and  masonry]  had  pur- 
chased justice  and  robbed  the  gallows  of  its  just  dues.  It  demonstrates 
that  the  traffic  in  juries,  which  has  been  so  extensively  carried  on,  will 
eventually  rob  the  people  of  their  rights  and  protection,  and  in  the  end 
their  liberties." 

' '  Blank,  one  of  the  '  good  fellows '  referred  to  in  the  Huntington  coixe- 
spondence,  is  now  the  Chief  Justice  of .  He  was  called  a  '  good  fel- 
low '  because  he  could  get  a  railroad  bill  passed  when  Governor  of  that 

Territory  with  very  httle  money.     He  was  once  Governor  of  also, 

having  received  the  appointment  through  the  [masonic]  influence  of  the 
Central  Pacific  Company.  He  there  betrayed  the  Gentiles  and  defeated 
the  laws  which  he  was  sworn  to  uphold  and  vindicate.  After  he  was  driven 
away  from  that  Territory,  the   same  [masonic]  influence  secured  for  him 

the  governorship  of  He  was  removed   from   that  office  on  proof 

that  he  had  been  accessory,  both  before  and  after  the  fact,  to  the  worst 
robberies  and  murders  ever  committed  in  that  Territory.  The  Tribune 
says  :  '  The  chain  of  evidence  is  almost  complete,  that  he  has  been  but  the 
abject,  characterless  and  conscienceless  tool  of  the  [masonic]  railroad 
owners  for  something  like  a  dozen  years,  and  that  aside  from  his  allegiance 
to  [masonry]  he  is  in  every  bone,  muscle,  nerve  and  heart-beat  thorough- 
ly coiTupt."  \_Such  is  the  material  that  Governors  and  the  ^^  good  judiciary'^ 
are  made  of  by  the  masons.] 

"It  is  impossible  to  comprehend  how  such  a  verdict  could  be  found 
unless,  indeed,  money  [and  masonry]  vas  plentifully  used  among  the 
jurymen.  The  case  was  plain  enough.  His  crime  was  deliberate  and 
premeditated.  Each  member  of  the  jury  which  brings  in  such  a  verdict 
commits  an  offense  against  society  and  against  the  public  peace.  It  is  no 
wonder  that  the  natural  criminal  classes  respond  to  the  impulse  given 
from  the  jury  room,  and  that  murders  are  all  too  frequent  throughout  the 
country." 

"  Ours  is  a  Government  of  lawyers.  In  the  senate  there  are  fifty- 
seven  lawyers,  five  bankers,  three  each  of  merchantmen,  railroad  officials, 
professional  poHticians,  and  manufacturers,  two  miners,  two  general  busi- 
ness, one  editor  and  eight  farmers. 

In  the  house  there  are  195  lawyers,  nineteen  professional  politicians, 
seventeen  merchants,  twelve  editors,  eleven  farmers,  ten  manufacturers, 
five  physicians,  three  railroad  officials,  two  each  of  civil  engineers,  miners 
and  mechanics,  one  clergyman,  one  capitalist,  and  one  metallurgist. 
Lawyers  get  office  because  they  are  brought  up  to  speak  in  public." 

' '  One  need  not  look  further  for  the  causes  which  started  the  bloody 
riot  than  the  statement  of  the  noted  lawyer,  who  defended  the  assassin,  in 


474  Courts  in  California,  and  the  States. 

■\vliicli  he  flauntingly  anuonuceel,  tliat  '  lie  not  only  conld  liave  acquitted 
the  uinrtlerer  if  be  liad  been  so  disposed,  but  that  it  "vvas  the  first  case  in 
which  he  had  ever  dllowed  a  jury  to  convict  a  criminal  cheut  of  his.'  The7'e 
is  more  underneath  this  than  he  is  willitig  to  openly  aver^a  good  deal  more 
than  he  wiU  be  likely  to  aver  in  the  present  mood  of  the  i3eople.  It  is 
freely  alleged  that  the  jury  was  packed  to  bring  in  a  mild  verdict — half  a 
dozen  Avretches  Avere  slipped  on  the  jury  for  that  jjurijose — and,  as  he  says, 
if  he  had  been  so  disj^osed  they  would  have  brought  in  a  verdict  of  acquittal, 
though  the  wretch  had  confessetl  his  guilt  and  the  jiroof  was  jiositive 
against  him.  It  was  the  knowledge  that  there  Avas  no  security  for  life 
under  the  laAv,  that  it  Avas  Avithin  the  ability  of  [masonic]  laAvyers  aided  by 
the  defects  of  the  law  [themselves  had  fixed]  and  laxity  of  the  courts  to  de- 
feat justice,  that  aroused  the  j^eople  to  such  a  pitch  of  indignation.  They 
felt  that  there  Avas  no  other  way  to  i^unish  criminals  [Avith  secret  influ- 
ence] except  by  lynch  law.  The  people  had  apjoealed  and  clamored  for 
justice  over  and  OA'er  again.  The  press  had  exj)osed  the  iniquities  prac- 
ticed in  the  courts  and  jury  rooms,  and  urged  a  reform,  but  no  attention 
was  paid  to  it.  The  travesty  of  justice  went  on  until  it  became  intolerable. 
It  is  the  general  failure  of  the  dispensation  of  justice  that  at  last  aroused 
the  citizens  to  A'iolent  retaliation.  It  is  the  feeling  that  a  \jnasonic\  mur- 
derer cannot  be  punished  by  law  for  his  crime.  It  is  the  knowledge  that 
he  Avill  escape  either  by  the  corruptions  of  the  lower  courts,  or  the 
supreme  coui-t  Avill  reverse  the  finding  on  some  wretched  quibble,  and  that 
he  A\dll  be  remanded  for  a  new  trial  and  let  out  on  straw  [masonic]  bail 
until  he  escaj)es  altogether.  The  supreme  courts  have  acted  as  if  they 
were  leagued  toith  the  criminal  classes  [they  are  chiefs  of  the  gang]  against 
the  jjeace  and  protection  of  society,  and  as  if  the  objects  of  coiu-ts  Avere  to 
protect  instead  of  punish  crime,  [that  is  my  exi^erience  with  the  courts]. 
They  enlist  upon  the  side  of  the  [masonic]  laAA-yer,  and  aid  him  with 
quii'ks  and  technicalities  to  secure  the  release  of  his  [masonic]  client,  or 
to  effect  wearisome  delays  and  continuances,  Avhich  are  tantamount  to  the 
same  result." 

' '  The  reign  of  law  and  order  is  restored  ;  that  law  and  order  which 
makes  murder  [and  robbery]  the  safest  trade,  and  Avlnch  has  made  imiio- 
tent  the  administration  of  law  against  [masonic]  crimes  of  society.  We 
have  vindicated  all  j^ractical  forms,  and  rules,  and  traps,  and  tricks,  which 
make  the  trial  of  a  [ring  man]  a  farce,  and  degrade  the  judiciary  to  the 
sole  end  of  having  kuoAATi  and  proved  murderers  [and  robbers]  saved  from 
conviction,  and  promoting  the  trade  of  [masonic]  laAvyers.  Unthinking 
jiersous  [and  the  gang]  speak  of  such  popular  imjiulse  as  a  crime,  forget- 
ting that  the  right  to  protect  itself  against  crime  is  a  right  of  society,  and 
is  conferred  by  it  on  its  agents,  and  that  society  does  not  lose  its  right  be- 
cause its  agents  have  become  impotent,"  [or  because  they  are  blacklegs, 
traitors,  thieves,  and  home-raA-aging  brothers  in  the  gang].  'Ill-judged 
as  it  was  in  acting  Avithout  organization,  the  feeUng  which  moved  it  was 


Courts  in  California  and  the  States.  475 

a  true  rej^resentative  of  healthy  public  sentiment.  Neither  experience, 
observation,  nor  public  discussion  has  taught  the  j)eople  that  the  adminis- 
tration of  law  is  on  the  side  of  justice,  law  and  order.  They  have  seen 
that  its  chief  end  is  to  give  immunity  to  [linked  criminals.  ] 

"  Here  is  what  Horace  Greely  thought  of  the  average  lawyer  : 

•  For  lawyers  to  league  themselves  for  money  with  the  most  consummate 
of  scoundrels,  to  become,  as  it  were,  accessories  after  the  fact  to  the  greatest 
of  crimes  and  ^dllainies  by  their  paid  labors  in  shielding  the  perisetrators  from 
detection  and  punishment,  or  from  being  obliged  to  disgorge  their  dishonest 
gains — all  this  has  become  a  regular  business  transaction,  and  the 
lawyer  shares  the  sj^oils  of  the  murderer  and  the  robber,  and 
jjockets  the  fee  stained  mth  the  blood,  or  wet  with  the  tears  of  some 
wretched  victim  of  fraud  or  force,  from  whom  his  cHent  had  just  before 
extorted  it,  with  no  less  satisfaction  than  he  puts  into  his  pocket  the  last 
dollar  of  the  poor,  deluded  victim,  who,  having  been  plundered  or  cheated 
of  the  greater  part  of  his  property  by  some  other  [Masonic]  rogue,  spends 
the  miserable  remnant  of  it  in  the  vain  and  deceptive  inirsuit  of  legal  redress. 
[And  blacklegs  say,  '  Ave  have  a  good  judiciary.']  " 

"Some  time  ago  Blank  instructed  his  lawyers  to  ofifer  Cox  $75,000  in 
full  settlement,  which  his  attorneys  refused,  stating  that  it  was  not  enough 
to  go  around  among  them  for  fees,  let  alone  what  Cox  was  entitled  to. 
Blank's  funeral  takes  place  to-morrow." 

[The  courts  are  a  secret  robber-clan.] 

"The  shooting  was  done  by  Cox,  and  arose  out  of  a  difficulty  about  a 
law  suit.  Cox  went  to  Blank's  office  and  demanded  $40,000  in  settlement 
of  claims  standing  between  them.  On  Blank's  refusing  he  drew  a  revolver 
and  shot  three  times.  He  says,  he  asked  [Links]  for  $40,000,  that  he  was 
in  absolute  want,  beggared,  ruined  [by  the  courts].  Links  refused. 
'Then,'  said  Cox,  'I  -ndll  attach  youi-  projaerty.'  'I  have  prei)ared  against 
that,'  replied  Links,  'you  can't  get  a  cent.'  Under  the  belief,  that  he 
■\yould  not  get  justice  in  any  way,  Cox  drew  a  revolver  and  fired. 

It  is  the  dii-ect  outcome  of  a  slavish  adherence  to  technicalities  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  which  so  often  ignores  equity  and  outrages  justice. " 

' '  The  acquittal  of  Cox  by  the  coroner's  juiy  adds  interest  to  the  case. 
In  1867,  Cox  commenced  a  suit  against  Links  &  Co.  for  $173,395,  the 
amount  due  him  on  a  contract  to  grade  a  portion  of  railroad.  Judgment 
■was  rendered  in  his  favor  for  the  amount  claimed  with  interest,  $193,173. 
The  case  was  a^jpealed  and  the  judgment  revei'sed.  A  second  trial  was 
had,  and  judgment  again  rendered  in  favor  of  Cox  for  $268,655.  There 
was  another  appeal  -ftdth  similar  results,  and  then  a  third  trial  with  judg- 
ment again  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff,  amounting  this  time  to  $378,477. 
Links  &  Co,  again  apjaealed  and  the  judgment  was  again  reversed,  and 
judgment  ordered  in  favor  of  the  defendant.  Under  the  exasperation  of 
this  climax  of  decisions,  last  sjjring  Cox  made  an  assault  ujion  Judge 
Links,  who  had  several  times  reversed  the  judgment  in  his  favor.    He  had 


476  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

been  goaded  to  desperation  by  gross  injustice.  He  had  put  his  all  into 
the  work  for  Avhich  he  was  seeking  comj)ensation, "  [and  the  masonic 
courts  made  him  blow  in  $75,000  more,  and  they  deserved  kilhng.] 

He  had  been  made  to  dance  attendance  by  the  rulings  of  the  [ma- 
sonic] supreme  bench  ni)on  the  courts  for  nearly  sixteen  yearn,  and  had 
for  several  years  been  borrowing  money  for  his  family  to  live  uix>u,  while 
he  was  still  being  bandied  back  and  forth,  like  a  shuttle  cock,  between 
the  courts.  After  this  assault  lapon  the  Judge  a  new  trial  of  the  case  was 
secured  by  another  party  coming  into  it,  and  it  was  sent  back  to  the  lower 
court  for  the  fourth  time,  where  every  judgment  had  been  for  the  plain- 
tiff excejit  one  on  demurrer,  and  every  judgment  in  his  favor  had  been 
reversed  on  a  technicality  by  the  suiareme  court.  As  an  outcome.  Cox  has 
killed  Links.  The  circumstances  were  such,  that  the  jury  decided  that  it 
was  done  in  self-defense."  FWhy  would  not  the  kilHng  of  such  courts  be 
also  in  self-defense  ?] 

' '  This  tragedy  can  be  regarded  in  no  other  light  than  a  logical  conse- 
quence of  a  joernicious  [masonic]  legal  system  which  in  ninety-nine  cases 
out  of  a  hundred  has  more  of  [flawed]  law  than  equity  in  it.  The  slayer 
of  Links  is  a  victim  of  [masonic]  technicaUty.  Had  there  been  more  of 
justice  and  less  strained  law  in  our  courts,  Links  would  be  alive  to-day." 

"It  is  an  outrage  on  the  name  of  law  for  the  courts  to  kee^j  a  case  on 
trial  seventeen  years,  and  during  that  time  to  repeatedly  bandy  it  back 
and  forth  between  the  courts"  [and  charge  $75,000  for  doing  so.\ 

"No  one  can  deny  the  magnitude  of  the  injury  done  Cox,  and  such 
delay  would  have  been  an  injury  even  if  there  had  been  no  merit  in  his 
case.  It  is  one  of  the  \pnany  thousand]  cases  which  increase  the  popular 
distrust  of  [masonic]  couxiis.  Wlien  a  man  has  a  just  claim  against  an- 
other, the  courts  ought  to  help  him  collect  it  inside  of  seventeen  years. 
Such  delays  of  justice  is  a  denial  of  justice,  for  justice  is  nothing  if  not 
executed.  Such  a  course  as  that  pursued  in  this  [and  so  many  thousand 
of  other]  cases  by  the  courts  is  not  a  i^rivate,  but  a  pubHc  outrage,  and 
these  cases  must  not  be  permitted  by  the  courts  to  occur  too  often,  for  if 
they  do,  it  will  be  as  Artemus  Ward  said  :  '  Ten  dollars  in  the  Judges' 
pockets  if  they  had  never  been  born.'  " 

"Every  large  city  in  the  United  States  is,  to-day,  a  smouldering  vol- 
cano, and  the  material  that  feeds  the  growing  flames  is  the  maladministra- 
tion of  justice,  not  only  as  regards  murderers  [and  robbers],  but  as  regards 
everybody  and  everything  that  has  money  [and  masonry]  to  back  him  or  it. 
The  people  are  growing  restive  under  the  rule  of  riches  [and  masonry], 
the  power  that  controls  our  courts  and  makes  the  administration  of  justice 
a  hideous  farce.  The  Cox-Links  case  was  one  in  point.  See  how  Cox 
was  robbed  in  due  form  of  law  for  sixteen  years  ;  see  what  a  desperate 
attempt  was  made  to  punish  Cox  for  defending  his  life  against  the  tyrant. 
Did  not  the  people  have  to  interfere  and  say  in  decided  tones  :     '  Stop  that. 


Courts  in  California  and  the  States.  477 

Let  Cox  alone.'     [And  he  was  let  alone\  or  the  i^eoi^le  would  have  had  to 
take  the  Cox-Links  business  pretty  resolutely  in  hand." 

"All  over  the  United  States,  in  ten  thousand  diflferent ways,  thisan-o- 
gance  of  the  [masonic]  money-power  and  its  interference  with  the  rights 
of  the  people  is  being  seen  and  felt,  and  the  sentiment  that  is  now 
'  smouldering '  over  it,  may  burst  into  volcanic  flame  and  force  at  any 
time.  As  time  goes  on,  the  outbreaks  are  certain  to  be  fiercer  and  more 
frequent  unless  the  court  [masonry]  is  removed." 

"After  a  [Masonic]  assassin's  crime  has  been  triumphantly  committed, 
a  hunt  is  commenced  for  legal  technicalities.  It  can  scarcely  be  termed  a 
'  hunt, '  for  any  village  attorney  can  pass  a  few  hours  in  his  library  and 
find  or  invent  a  cart-load  of  them.  Dear  to  the  [masonic  cursed]  court  is 
the  dry,  threadbare,  venerable,  time-worn  technicahty.  Equally  dear  is 
the  new  technicality.  It  is  turned  over  and  over,  and  inspected  from  vari- 
ous stand-points  with  professional  enthusiasm.  No  botanist  surveys  a 
newly  discovered  plant  or  flower  with  such  profound  gratification  as  the 
[masonic]  court  takes  official  cognizance  of  a  new  technicality.  The  at- 
torney who  cannot  devise  a  technicality  suitable  for  any  phase  of  a 
criminal  proceeding,  should  bury  his  empty  head  in  a  sand-hill,  and 
grow  up  to  be  his  own  monument.  The  old  moss-covered  technicalities  are 
as  dear  to  the  [masonic  cursed]  judicial  heart,  as  the  diy  bones  of  a  fossil 
mammoth  are  to  the  infatuated  natural  philosoijher.  The  aspiring  legal 
practitioner  surveys  the  judicial  horizon  wdth  the  same  watchful  care  that 
the  astronomer  surveys  the  Heavens,  and  the  appearance  of  an  impoi-tant 
new  technicality  awakens  in  his  bosom  emotions  similar  to  those  that 
agitate  the  star-gazer  on  hailing  the  advent  of  a  new  planet.  To  keep 
pace  with  the  increase  of  technicalities  requu'es  incessant  vigilance  and 
large  Hbraries.  Moses  could  present  laws  for  the  whole  world,  and  for  all 
terrestrial  time,  condensed  into  so  small  a  space  that,  jDrinted  on  a  slij)  of 
paper,  they  might  be  pasted  in  the  bottom  of  a  hat.  The  San  Francisco 
Law  Library  contains  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  volumes,  and  yet  our 
legal  jDractitioners  often  turn  away  from  it  in  desj^air,  not  being  able  to 
find  in  its  whole  vast  collection  the  jDrecise  law  book  they  want.  Many 
lawyers  keep  themselves  poor  by  the  absolutely  unavoidable  purchase  of 
law  books,  which  might  be  more  appropriately  termed  'leclmicalifies  hound 
in  calf. '  To  be  able  to  higgle  over  a  technicahty  in  learned  style,  to  ex- 
piate with  due  solemnity  on  all  its  Bunyan-like  ramnifications  relative  to 
some  similar  technicahty,  is  really  the  path  to  legal  success  [in  a  prosti- 
tuted court] ,  and  every  lawA^er  knows  it,  and  the  bold  [brother  in  the 
gang]  attorney  frequently  has  occasion  to  wonder  at  the  ease  with  which 
the  brain  of  a  '  learned  Judge '  has  been  muddled  [by  coin  or  secret  obli- 
gation.]" 

Every  State  legislature  is  a  mill  for  incessantly  grinding  out  new 
[flawed]  laws,  which  must  all  be  construed  and  exi^ounded  in  turn  [for  a 
price],  and  each  of  which  brings  forth  its  crop  of  decisions  and  technical- 


478  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

ities  with  the  multiplying  powers  of  a  grain  of  mustard  seed.  The  bear- 
ing of  the  laws  of  one  State  on  the  laws  of  another  State  miist  be  expound- 
ed, and  the  bearing  of  national  laws  on  State  laAvs  must  be  expounded 
also.  In  almost  every  State  appropriations  are  regularly  made  for  the 
publication  of  what  are  termed  reports.  There  are  New  York  reisorts, 
Massachusetts  rej)orts,  Ohio  reports,  Michigan  reports,  Wisconsin  rej^orts, 
and  so  on  ad  infinitum.  These  reports  are  grand  depositones  of  technical- 
ities. They  contain  tlie  r/uesswoi-k  and  opinions  of  a  multitude  of  [co7i/lic(- 
inr/]  Jiidges  on  all  kinds  of  ingenious  and  infinitesimal  points,  and  every 
year  they  grow  larger  in  size  and  more  boundless  in  number.  A  i^ile  of 
them  form  a  perfect  arsenal  of  technicahties.  When  a  shrewd  laAvyer 
spiings  a  new  technicahty  on  his  opponent,  procured  from  one  of  these 
five  dollar  volvmies,  his  opponent's  case  is  temporarily  hopeless.  The 
usual  recourse  is  to  secure  a  delay  on  some  traus^jarent  i^retext,  and  hunt 
up  enough  "authorities"  and  "i^recedents  "  to  upset  that  technicality  and 
over-shadow  it  with  another  one. 

If  the  Emperor  of  Japan  should  send  a  three-masted  ship  to  San 
Francisco,  and  request  that  it  be  loaded  with  a  single  copy  of  opinions, 
dissenting  opinions,  digests,  commentaries,  recorded  quibbles,  and  tech- 
nicalities bearing  thereon,  that  ship  would  sink  so  deep  in  San  Francisco 
Bay  that  the  ablest  shark  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  would  never  be  able  to  find 
it.  If  a  tenth  part  of  oui*  legal  lore  ever  got  to  Japan  it  would  tangle  the 
Oriental  mind  in  a  hopeless  maze. 

In  addition  to  the  various  State  governments  engaged  in  the  propaga- 
tion of  legal  technicalities  by  annual  pubhcations,  there  are  countless 
private  publishers  engaged  in  the  same  business.  They  are  all  toiling  in 
the  same  field,  and  helping  to  roll  up  the  great  moimtain  of  technicalities 
that  is  gradually  breaking  the  back  of  the  goddess  of  justice. 

Even  when  the  vast  conglomeration  of  disjointed  law  fails  to  meet  a 
particular  case,  the  sagacious  attorney  may  turn  to  the  legal  lore  of  England, 
and  gi'ope  through  the  legal  fictions  of  a  thousand  years.  Somewhei-e 
among  the  mouldering  rubbish  he  will  find  a  valuable  hint,  or  a  techni- 
cahty centuries  old  that  can  be  galvanized  into  life,  and  he  will  be  able 
to  return  to  the  charge  with  victorious  vigor. 

When  a  civil  case  has  been  decided  perhaps  for  the  twentieth  time  in 
various  courts  and  manners,  and  is  no  longer  to  be  higgled  over,  it  shoiild 
not  be  stated  that  the  victor  has  proved  the  justice  of  his  case.  It  would 
often  be  more  correct  to  say  that  his  lawyers  have  Hterally  woni  out  the 
physical  energies  of  their  opponents,  or  have  finally  hrouglit  about  a  total 
exhaustion  of  funds  on  tlie  other  side.  Gold  is  a  leading  factor  in  the  search 
for  justice,  as  well  as  a  sinew  of  war.  To  the  ambitious  students  of  law 
the  candid  professor  should  simply  hold  VL-p  a  technicality  and  exclaim  : 
"By  this  shall  ye  conquer." 

This  practical  i^art  of  the  legal  science  is,  to  see  that  no  rogue  who  can 
raise  money  [or  ring  influence]  shall  ever  be  adequately  punished.     "  Bet- 


Courts  in  Calitoenia  and  the  States.  479 

ter  that  nine  guilty  persons  shall  escape  than  that  one  innocent  person 
shall  suffer,"  was  once  the  noble  adage  of  Anglo-Saxon  law.  It  has  been 
changed.  It  should  now  read  :  "  Better  that  a  thousand  [ring]  cutthroats 
should  go  unpunished  than  that  a  single,  worthless  technicality  should  go 
unobsei-ved. "  Justice  has  long  been  bhnd.  If  she  could  get  one  eye  open 
and  gi'ow  deaf,  it  would  be  a  blessed  thing  for  the  American  people. 

Suppose  our  judicial  system  continues  as  it  is  for  five  hundred  years. 
How  unhappy  will  be  the  fate  of  the  peoi^le  who  live  then  !  Imagine  the 
fifteen  story  buildings  that  will  have  to  be  constructed  all  over  the  laud  to 
contain  even  a  fractional  part  of  the  many  technicalities  that  will  then  be 
in  daily  demand.  When  no  place  can  possibly  be  provided,  in  spite  of 
merciless  taxation,  for  the  storage  of  accumulated  law  books,  the  impover- 
ished citizen  will  be  turned  out  of  doors  to  make  room  for  them.  "My 
children  are  homeless,"  he  will  exclaim,  "but,  thank  God,  they  have 
plenty  of  law." 

Yes,  America  will  then  be  truly  a  land  of  law,  but  the  abode  of  justice 
will  be  many  thousands  of  miles  away.  Immense  piles  of  law  books  [and 
practical  masonry]  wiU  crowd  her  out  of  the  countiy. 

So  gloomy  a  view  may  not  be  necessary.  Some  day,  in  sheer  des- 
peration, our  law-worn  successors  may  fall  back  on  the  ten  commandments 
and  make  a  grand  bonfire  of  their  legal  lore  and  desiccated  technicalities, 
that  will  illuminate  the  continent  from  one  end  to  the  other.  After  the 
fashion  of  the  Moslem  caliph  at  Alexandria  they  may  declare  :  "If  these 
immense  piles  of  law  books,  which  it  would  require  a  hundred  thousand 
years  to  read,  agree  ^\•ith  Moses,  we  do  not  need  them.  If  they  disagree 
with  him  they  should  certainly  be  burned."  After  that  [Masonic]  mur- 
derers and  robbers  will  be  veiy  Hkely  to  get  their  necks  stretched.  Couris 
■«-ill  no  longer  virtually  declare:  "We  know  that  the  [ring]  wretch  before 
us  is  guilty,  but  how  can  we  punish  him,  when  there  is  a  technicality  in 
the  way  ?  " 

For  the  last  time  the  world  "ndll  hear  of  demurrers,  exceptions,  object- 
ions, continuances,  motions  for  three  or  four  new  trials,  re-hearings,  ap- 
jjeals,  re-appeals,  writs  of  error,  WTits  of  supersedeas  and  all  the  other 
flummery  and  dry-bones  of  a  perfectly  icorthless  judicial  syslei7i." 

'*Dame  Justice  appears  to  be  not  only  blind,  but  deaf  and  dumb  also. 
And  that  is  not  a  good  thing. 

T\Tien  [the  four  Masonic  criminals]  were  at  last,  after  overlong  delay, 
brought  into  court  yesterday  for  trial,  their  [Masonic]  lawyers  had  the 
coolness  to  ask  for  a  further'  delay — and  they  actually  got  it. 

"To  make  a  motion,"  they  told  the  com-t.  The  iirojiosed  motion  be- 
ing a  mere  quibble  and  evasion.  They  i^ro^Dose  to  go  back  of  the  indict- 
ment and  attack  the  legality  of  the  Grand  Jiu-y,  it  seems.  What  they 
really  want  is  to  put  off  the  trial  as  long  as  possible,  and  to  use  for  that 
piiiljose  every  possible  cunning  and  unscrupulous  device. " 


480  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

"TNTienthe  '  four  distingnislied  defendants, '  indicted  for  consinracy 
to  defraud  the  city,  whicli  means  the  people  of  the  city,  and  their  sis  or 
eight  equally  distinguished  lawyers  had  got  their  delay  from  the  judge, 
an  officer  of  the  court  said,  'now  we  mil  get  down  to  the  common 
herd  of  scamps.'  "     [Outsiders.] 

"The  common  herd  of  scamps,"  forsooth.  One,  aged  17,  sentenced 
to  two  years  imprisonment  for  burglary.  Another,  for  grand  larceny, 
two  years.  Another,  larceny,  three  years  and  a  quarter  in  the  peniten- 
tiary. 

It  does  not  take  long  to  turn  oflf  the  "common  herd  of  scamps."  But 
pray,  why  should  justice  make  this  distinction  ?  Is  it  right  that  rich 
[Masonic]  scamj^s,  because  they  are  able  to  hire  "  distinguished  lawyers" 
shall  eyade  trial,  while  poor  scamps,  friendless,  unable  to  giye  large  fees 
to  "distinguished"  counsel,  are  hun-ied  to  jail  ? 

Nearly  69,000  voters  of  New  York  expressed  their  discontent  with  the 
existing  management  of  affairs  by  voting  for  Mr.  George.  They  were  not 
anarchists,  as  some  silly  peoi3le  jjreteuded,  they  were  law-abiding  but 
seriously  discontented  citizens,  and  one  of  theu-  complaints  was  against 
the  way  in  which  justice  is  administered  in  New  York.  The  election  at 
which  they  expressed  their  discontent  was  one  of  the  quietest  and  most 
orderly  this  city  has  ever  seen.  They  did  not  elect  Mr.  George,  but  if 
justice  continues  to  make  so  large  a  difference  between  "distinguished  de- 
fendants" [Masons]  and  "common  scamjis"  [outsiders],  as  she  has  done 
on  so  many  occasions  and  years,  the  election  of  Mr.  George,  or  possibly  a 
worse  man,  and  not  only  that,  but  of  Judges,  j^rosecutiag  officers  and  legis- 
lators as  well,  is  a  very  certain  event. 

The  American  jjeople  are  patient  and  long-suflfering,  but  they  are  not 
fools;  and  they  all  have  votes." 

"What  it  Costs  to  be  a  Judge. 

Some  curious  statements  made  before  a  meeting  of  the  Bar  Association. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Bar  Association  of  the  city  of  New  York  some 
time  ago,  Wheeler  H.  Peckham  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  candidates 

for  judicial  offices  are  subjected  to  assessment  by  jjolitical  parties 

Originally  a  small  assessment  was  jsaid,  such  as  would  be  jjroper  to  cover 
the  necessary  exjienses  of  printing,  &c. ,'  but  of  late  the  assessments  are  so 
large  that  it  is  imjiossible  for  any  man  to  j^ay  them  wdthout  a  consciousness 
that  he  be  buying  a  nomination.  He  proi3hesied  that  unless  the  evil  was 
checked  the  judiciary  of  this  country  Avould  merge  into  as  absolute  a  con- 
dition of  corruption  as  ever  existed  in  any  country.  He  said,  that  so  seri- 
ous an  evil  needed  the  most  radical  efforts  to  coiTect  it.  Ex-Judge  Emott 
said  he  had  been  informed  that  the  assessments  now  are  sometimes  as  high 
as  825,000.  A  man  who  is  able  to  pay  such  an  assessment  forfeits  nothing 
but  his  self-resi^ect,  which  of  itself  is  enough  to  disquahfy  him.  But  a 
man  not  able  to  pay  so  large  an  assessment  must  mortgage  himself  to  get 


Courts  in  California  and  the  States.  481 

tlie  nomination.  If  lie  is  elected,  lie  belongs  to  the  three  or  four  men  who 
have  advanced  the  money,  and  is  bound  to  rejiay  them  through  the  patron- 
age of  his  oflSce.  This,  he  thought,  was  the  most  corrupt  aspect  of  the 
case.  He  had  been  informed  that  candidates  for  the  highest  judicial 
offices  had  been  notified  to  attend  the  committee  meetings  of  pohtical  jjar- 
ties,  and  kept  dancing  attendance  in  ante-rooms  until  the  politicians  saw 
fit  to  see  them.  Then  they  would  be  told  that  the  assessment  was  so  much 
money.  If  the  candidate  said  it  "\\as  large,  or  larger  than  usual,  he  would 
be  told  that  the  only  question  was  whether  he  would  pay  the  money. 

Mr.  Dorman  B.  Eaton  said  that  the  present  system  of  nominations  led 
to  the  selection  of  men  who  could  pay  the  assessments,  sometimes  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  the  candidate  was  unfit.  He  thought  that  the  old 
Eughsh  system  of  buying  a  place  was  more  honest,  because  it  was  at  least 
open. 

"For  Fn'E  CaijVes. 
A  cause  celebre  tchich  has  occupied  the  courts  for  fourteen  years  and  still  drags 

along. 

This  litigation  has  been  under  the  consideration  of  thirty  grand  jurors 
and  eighty-four  petit  jurors;  it  has  been  presented  to  nine  different  trial 
judges,  and  has  twice  been  before  the  Supreme  Couii,  five  judges  sitting 
upon  the  bench  at  each  time.  The  court  costs  alone  amount  to  more 
than  S5000,  and  the  attorneys'  fees  are  much  more  than  that  amount.  All 
of  the  eighty-four  jurors  have  decided  in  favor  of  Johnson,  but  the  courts 
have  uniformly  set  the  verdicts  aside  on  legal  grounds  because  of  the  close 
question  as  to  whether  there  was  probable  cause  on  the  part  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  society  for  starting  prosecution. 

The  larger  part  of  a  lifetime  has  been  spent  in  useless  Htigation  over  a 
few  animals,  the  entire  value  of  which  was  about  $45.  A  number  of  the 
farmers  engaged  in  the  suits  have  become  hopelessly  ruined,  but  stiUJohn- 
son  comes  smilingly  before  the  court,  begins  his  suits,  and  readily  pays 
for  them,  though  he  is  fast  sinking  into  insolvency,  and  is  already  an 
elderly  man.  Children  of  various  ages,  who  testified  when  the  Htigation 
first  began,  now  lead  into  court  theu'  own  children,  who  are  nearly  as  old 
as  were  theu*  parents  at  the  time  they  made  their  first  bows  to  the  courts. 
The  farmers  are  growing  old,  their  money  has  leaked  away  through  the 
various  legal  crevices  and  found  its  way  into  other  hands;  homes  have 
been  made  poorer  in  every  way,  and  still  the  case  is  dragged  through  the 
tedious  channels  of  the  law,  with  but  Httle  more  chance  of  a  settlement 
than  there  was  fourteen  years  ago." 

"After  Seven  Ye.\rs  in  Jail. 
Mr.  Henry  A.  Frost,  who  was  discharged  from  Ludlow  street  jail  by 
Judge  Arnoux  on  December  28,  after   seven   years'   imprisonment,  ob- 
tained yesterday  from  the  supreme  court  of  Kings  county   an  order   de- 
claring all  the  proceedings  against  the  petitioner  and  his  clients,  through 
31 


482  Courts  in  California  and  the  States. 

which  he  was  incarcerated,  to  be  mill  and  void.  "It  has  taken  me  seven 
years  to  find  out  whether  I  could  be  imiirisoned  legally  for  protecting 
a  chent,"  said  Mr.  Frost  to  a  Herald  reporter.  "My  imjarisonnaent  has 
broken  up  my  home,  alienated  my  friends,  ruined  my  business,  and  left 
me  practically  a  beggar,  wath  a  broken  down  constitution." 

"  The  reason  why  the  Willows  (Cal.)  Justice  of  the  Peace  attempted  to 
assassinate  one  of  the  constables  with  a  knife,  is  said  to  be  that  the 
constable  did  not  bring  his  business  into  that  Justice's  court." 

"  Shroder  has  been  acquitted  for  the  murder  of  Le  Fevi-e  at  Oakland. 
The  jury  were  out  from  Friday  night  to  Monday  afternoon.  Transitory 
mania  and  emotional  insanity  are  now  in  criminal  homicides  what  four  aces 
are  in  di'aw  poker.  But  only  the  rich  can  afford  these  costly  disorders. 
A  biased  Jiidge  and  a  jury  to  suit  are  good  helps.  Killing  is  no  murder 
in  such  cases." 

"It  is  useless  to  say  that  justice  does  its  work  with  anything  like 
completeness.  There  have  been  1517  murders  committed  in  this  country 
this  year,  as  reported  by  telegrajDh,  which,  of  course,  does  not  include  the 
whole  number,  whereas  during  the  whole  of  last  year  there  were  but  1266. 
As  against  this  awful  list  there  have  been  but  93  persons  hanged,  the  ma- 
jority of  whom  were  negroes  in  the  south,  who  may  or  may  not  have  been 
griilty,  and  118  persons  lynched,  of  whom  the  majority  were  also  southern 
negroes,  whose  guilt  was  many  times  in  doubt.  Assuming  that  all  were 
guilty,  the  punishment  of  211  persons  where  over  1500  murders  were  com- 
mitted is  paljDably  a  failure  of  justice,  and  shows  that  the  laws  or  the 
methods  of  executing  the  laws  are  not  sufficient  to  deter  the  commission 
of  crime.  Many  of  these  cases  of  lynching,  and  perhaps  the  majority  of 
them,  were  due,  as  the  Tribune  says,  to  the  fact  that  the  people  were  ex- 
asperated by  the  failure  of  justice,  and  hopeless  that  any  jaenalty  would  be 
administered.  They  have,  therefore,  in  the  very  rage  of  despair,  taken 
the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  shut  oflf  the  customary  avenues  of  escaj^e 
by  quibbles,  delays  and  technicalities." 

"The  Pistol. 

Br.  I.   S.    Kallocli's  Lecture  on  its   Use  and  Abuse,   was   delivei'ed   at 

Union  Hall  last  evening  to  a  very  large  audience A  tragedy  was 

again  enacted  in  this  city.  I  am  going  to  try  the  courts  and  not  the 
case.  I  know  Httle  about  the  case,  but  I  know  enough  about  it  to  know 
that  it  belongs  to  that  kind  for  which  there  exists  great  provocation — one 
that  will  cause  siich  cases  to  increase  rather  than  diminish,  and  calls  for 
some  one  to  characterize  it  as  it  deserves.  In  short,  I  arraign  our  judges, 
courts  and  lawyers,  with  their  teclmicahties,  delays,  and  pi'ocrastinations 
as  the  grand  insi^iration  of  the  most  colossal  and  calamitous  class  of  crimes 
^\•ith  which  our  community  is  afflicted.  I  refer  to  the  crimes  that  rock 
society  to  its  foundation  and  threaten  to  loosen  the  very  groundwork  of 
civil  order.     How  much  of  this  resijonsibility  is  due  to  the  courts  ?     Is 


Courts  in  California  and  the  States.  483 

justice  BO  administered  as  to  secure  respect  to  its  officers  ?  Are  the  courts 
morally  responsible  for  these  starthng  crimes  ?  I  think  they  are,  and  I 
arraign  them  for  this  fearful  misdemeanor.  The  whole  jury  system, 
grand  and  petit,  has  outlived  its  usefulness.  Our  jury  methods  are 
defective  and  need  reforming.  That  their  defects  are  dangerous  to  the 
IDublic  jaeace  is  well  known  to  everybody  except  antediluvian  judges, 
conservative  lawyers  and  post-j)Hocene  philosophers.  Projaerty,  Hfe  and 
liberty  are  at  the  mercy  of  corrupt  jurors  when  deputy  officials  have 
the  opijortunity  to  carry  on  a  little  business  of  theii"  own.  The  people 
need  not  dread  the  soldier,  the  priest,  the  editor,  the  milHonaire  or  the 
devil,  if  there  is  only  an  open  field  and  a  fair  fight.  The  man  to  be 
dreaded  is  the  shyster  lawyer,  and  the  power  to  be  feared,  a  corrupted 
court.  The  courts  are  the  sheet  anchor  of  the  Kepublic,  and  when  they 
are  gone  everything  is  gone.  To  be  respected,  the  courts  must  be  re- 
spectable. There  must  be  no  more  such  decisions  as  the  8-to-7  decision, 
whereby  a  man  who  was  elected  President  was  defrauded  of  his  office. 
The  courts  should  get  out  of  the  bogs  of  technicality  and  be  what  they 
are  intended  to  be,  courts  of  justice.  The  merits  of  a  case  are  lost  sight 
of  in  the  legal  quibbles  hstened  to  by  the  courts.  A  case  in  j)oiut  is 
that  of  the  man  who  had  a  railroad  contract  and  spent  his  fortune  in 
the  work.  For  sixteen  years  he  tried  to  have  his  claim  adjusted  by  the 
courts.  He  recovered  judgment  four  times,  but  each  time  it  was  set 
aside  on  a  technicaUty.  Despondent,  poor,  exasperated,  he  sent  a  human 
being  to  his  grave  and  himself  to  a  felon's  cell.  If  the  courts  had  not 
been  derelict  in  then*  duty,  could  not  justice  have  been  administered  to  this 
man  in  sixteen  yeai'S  and  the  crime  averted  ? "  The  lecturer  next  re- 
ferred to  the  insolence  of  lawyers  toward  witnesses,  Avhich  seems  to  be 
not  only  allowed,  but  encouraged  by  the  judges.  He  had  seen  attorneys 
badger  and  abuse  simple-hearted  men  and  honest  women  who  fell  into 
their  clutches  on  the  witness  stand,  and  if  they  attempted  to  resent  the 
impudence  of  the  lawyers,  the  couri  immediately  admonished  them  to 
go  slow  or  they  would  be  punished  for  contempt.  He  knew  of  one 
attorney  in  this  city  who  was  frequently  engaged  simijly  because  his 
eyes  were  monstrosities,  and  he  could  disconcert  witnesses  when  he  turned 
his  gaze  full  upon  them.  He  considered  that  the  glaring  wrongs  of  the 
courts  were  a  prolific  cause  of  crime.  It  is  a  common  thing  to  hear  men 
say  on  the  streets  that  the  courts  ought  to  be  abohshed  and  the  peojile 
form  Vigilance  Committees  and  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands.  Many 
practical  merchants  prefer  to  compromise  unjust  claims  rather  than  go  to 
law,  simply  because  they  fear  the  uncertainty  of  the  administration  of 
justice.  Mr.  Ivalloch  attributed  the  alarming  decay  of  self-respect  to 
the  crushing  out  of  the  sense  of  honor  by  law.  Genteel  bummers, 
blackmailers  and  vagrants  have  their  carcasses  protected  by  the  courts,  and 
are  saved  from  incarceration  and  labor  by  the  judges,  Avliile  the  big-hearted 
man  whose  self-respect  and  honor  were  being  toyed  with  by  the   judiciary 


484  Courts  in  Califoknia  and  the  States. 

was  driven  to  seek  redress  in  crime Instead  of  equity  it  is  technicality, 

and  it  is  no  wonder  that  men  are  driven  to  suicide  and  murder. " 

"Lawyers  have  been  as  powerful  in  the  courts,  in  many  instances,  as 
in  the  legislatures.  They  have  sometimes  owned  judges  and  thus  got  siich 
ruhngs  from  the  bench  as  they  desired.  At  other  times,  by  then-  suj^erior 
intellectual  force,  or  force  of  will,  they  have  tyrannized  over  judges,  and 
thus  carried  on  their  unequal  warfare  against  the  public. " 
From  a  Governor's  Message. 

"The  laws,  owing  to  careless  [?]  legislation  and  decisions  of  the 
courts,  are  in  such  a  state  of  confu.sion  that  it  is  very  difficult  even  for  ex- 
jjerienced  members  of  the  bar  to  arrive  at  any  definite  conclusion  in  regard 
to  them,  much  less  can  a  citizen  exactly  determine  the  rules  that  govern 
his  conduct,  or  the  laws  that  guarantee  his  rights  and  pri\aleges." 

[^Suppose  there  are  100,000  lawyers  in  the  United  States,  and  that  each  on 
an  average,  directly  and  indirectly,  damages  the  people  $10,000  ;  see  how  much 
thai  is:  $100,000  x  $10,000— $1,000,000,000  every  year!  and  say,  tvhether 
or  not,  the  whole  horde  should  be  abolished?      The  clekks  of  the  courts 

COULD   BE  REQUIRED  TO   DO,    AT   SLIGHT   EXPENSE,  THE   NECESSARY   CLERICAL 
WORK,    ETC.,    BELONGING   TO   A   SUIT. 


Of 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Big  land  steals  in  "Washington. — "Eighty  per  cent,  of  the  entries  in  one 
district  fraudulent. " — How  this  is  accomplished,  and  who  can  do  «it 
with  impunity. — Also  showing  what  should  be  "between  the  lines" 
in  the  newspaper  press. 

W  HILE  it  was  a  difficult  matter  for  a  homebuilder  to  acquire 
and  hold  even  a  quarter  section  of  land,  masonic  individuals 
and  gangs  by  their  prostitution  of  the  Government  and  secret 
influence  at  court  were  given,  or  allowed  to  steal,  millions  of 
acres  of  the  people's  rightful  heritage.  This  is  so  notorious 
that  I  only  need  to  quote  from  the  press  to  make  it  plain  and 
evident  to  all. 

"  There  is  no  doubt,  and  there  can  be  none,  that  the  public  lands  have 
been  plundered  in  the  most  bold  and  unblushing  manner.  The  testimony 
of  every  man  who  has  investigated  the  subject  is  to  this  effect,  and  there 
is  no  citizen  of  Washington  who  is  not  convinced  of  it.  The  evidence  given 
on  this  point  by  this  special  agent  may  be  quoted  as  indicative  of  that 
which  has  been  given  by  thousands  of  others  [without  effect  because  the  big 
thieves  are  linked  masons].  In  an  official  report  he  said  :  'It  is  my 
opinion  iha^i  fully  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  entries  in  this  (the  Olymj^ia)  district 
are  collusive,  and  therefore  fraudulent.'  "Was  it  not  necessary  to  set  a 
closer  Avatch  on  the  thieves  ?  Every  journal  in  the  "United  States  which 
has  been  outsjioken  in  behalf  of  ijojjular  rights  sustains  the  action  of  Com- 
missioner Sparks.  Every  one  which  owes  its  allegiance  to  corrujat  [ma- 
sonic] power,  joins  in  the  chorus  against  him,  [and  he  was  kicked  out  of 
office  for  exposing  the  rank  perjury  and  stealing  of  the  linked  masons,  and 
the  masonic-ridden  courts  shielded  the  criminals.] 

* 

[House  of  Representatives,  "Washington.] — "Cobb  moved  to  pass  the 

bill  repealing  the  i^re-emption,  timber-culture,  and  desert  land  acts 

Pay  son  declared  that  duiing  the  jjast  four  years  ninety  per  cent,   of  the 

entries  of  land  under  these  acts  had  been  fraudulent." 

* 
*  * 

"Some  of  the  down  Sound  papers  are  expressing  a  gi'eat  deal  of  vir- 
tuous indignation  over  the  probable  escape  of  J . .  and  other  [masons]  from 
conviction  upon  chai'ges  of  frauds  in  connection  with  timber  land  entries. 
These  same  papers,  in  common  with  other  [masonic]  papers  in  this  land 
district,  have  willingly  accejited  and  pubHshed  the  notices  necessaiy  to 
appear  sixty  days  before  timber  land  entries  can  be  perfected,  for  which 
they  asked  and  received  very  liberal  i)ay,  and  in  doing  this  had  abundant 

|4P5) 


486  Big  Land  Steals  in  Washington. 

opportunities  of  satisfying  tliemselves  that  most  of  sucli  entries  Avere  made 
in  the  interests  of  [masons]  and  that  only  in  exceptional  cases  was  it  ex- 
pected that  the  individuals  taking  the  claims  would  hold  them.  [The 
laud  office  officials  also  being  masons  would  and  do  shut  their  eyes  to 
frauds  of  their  brethren,  but  outsiders  are  snatched  ui3  quick  enough.] 
Nearly  every  mill  company  and  large  buyer  of  timber  lands  Avas  as  much 
guilty  of  fraud  as  J .  .  or  any  other  land  agent  who  acted  for  his  principals 
in  securing  large  and  valuable  tracts  of  timber  land.  It  is  folly  to  attempt 
to  make  one  or  two  men  [when  they  are  masons]  the  scapegoats  for  all  the 
sinners  who  have  been  guilty  of  '  irregularities  '  in  connection  with  land 
entries. 

The  public  land  laws  are  only  so  many  legalized  methods  of  offering 
premiums  upon  fraud  and  pei-jury,  and  until  these  laws  are  differently 
framed,  evasions,  false  swearing  and  trickery  will  be  prevalent  in  the 
taking  up  of  jjublic  lands. " 

[And  they  will  be  just  as  jjrevalent  no  matter  how  the  laws  are  framed, 
so  long  as  masons  and  odd-felloics  are  the  land  and  court  officials  u'ho  are 
secretly  sworn  to  Tceep  their  ring  brothers^  secrets. 

"WTienever  land  is  secured  by  fraud  it  is  well  known  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  land  thus  stolen,  and  the  ciimes  can  easily  be  proven  ;  and 
when  outsiders  go  after  such  "iDremiums"  (?)  this  is  done  with  a  vengeance 
and  for  blood,  and  they  are  made  scajjegoats  for  all  the  ring  thieves  in  the 
country  ;  stripped  of  all  their  jjroperty,  if  they  have  any,  by  the  court 
gang,  and  then  frequently  sent  to  prison  to  reflect  on  the  unequal  justice 
(which  is  not  justice)  they  are  suffering,  and  to  relate  the  much  worse  and 
stronger  cases  against  ring  men  steeped  in  crime  that  were  "acquitted," 
or  laid  over  to  acquit  by  the  same  jury  or  court.  And  the  land  of  the  out- 
sider is  restored  to  the  Government  even  after  jiatents  have  been  issued 
and  it  has  changed  hands  to  different  outsiders — "innocent  purchasers" 
and  in  "good  faith."] 

* 

'  •  It  has  been  stated  over  and  over  again  that  the  [ring]  iieople  of 
Olympia  were  intimately  connected  Avith  these  land  frauds  ;  that  they  had 
permeated  society,  had  contaminated  servants  of  the  Government,  [Ma- 
sonic] citizens  of  the  town,  one  and  all.  So  general  has  become  this  con- 
nection ■with  the  frauds  that  their  investigation  has  been  all  but  impossible. 
Obstacles  are  j^nt  in  the  way,  movements  made  are  squelched,  and  a  sup- 
pression of  the  facts  resorted  to  in  all  cases,"  [where  the  gang  is  con- 
cerned.] 

For  example  I  give  this. — "The  [farce]  trial  of  J..  Avhich  commenced 
a  week  ago  [at  the  expense  of  the  peoj^le  which  means  profit  to  the  gang] 
terminated  yesterday  in  the  disagi'eement  of  the  [ring]  jui-y.  J.,  had 
been  indicted  for  obstructing  justice  by  removing  to  British  Columbia  a  large 
number  of  imi)oi-tant  witnesses  in  the  cases  of  consi^iracy  to  defraud  the  Gov- 
ernment by  making  fictitious  land  entries,  pending  against  J .  .  ,W .  .  ,D . .  ,11 . . 


Big  Land  Steals  in  Washington.  487 

and  P. . .  The  trial  of  W.  was  commenced  Wednesday,  but  for  want  of  suffi- 
cient evidence  the  Judge  du-ected  the  Jury  to  bring  in  a  verdict  of  not 
guilty,  which  was  done.  An  order  of  nolle  pros.  Avas  entered  in  the  cases 
of  J . .  and  D . .  for  the  same  reason,  and  they  were  discharged.  The 
Olympia  attorneys  P. . .  and  B. .  .  were  allowed  a  change  of  venue  to 
Olympia.  [Where,  of  course,  their  court  brethren  "  acquitted  "  them. 
One  of  them  was  jirosecutiug  attorney  at  the  time — that  is,  he  prosecuted 
outsiders,  and  was  a  close  friend  and  influential  brother  of  the  Governors, 
while  they  would  scoff  at  the  will  of  whole  communities  of  good  citizens.] 

^'Eticl  of  the  Timber  Fraud  Suits. — Owing  to  the  fact  that  nearly  all 
the  important  witnesses  in  the  cases  against  J . .  and  his  jjals  had  been  in- 
duced to  leave  the  country,  U.  S.  prosecuting  attorney  [Mason]  considered 
it  exiaedient  to  dismiss  the  cases  against  the  parties,  as  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  get  a  conviction  when  the  opposite  parties  have  money  [or  be- 
long to  the  gang]  unless  the  evidence  is  overwhelmmgly  conclusive  of 
guilt,  and  even  then  a  prosecution  often  fails.'' 

[But  are  such  gentry  any  the  less  criminals  than  those  without  money 
or  ring  influence  at  court,  who  go  to  prison  ?    And  is  this  justice  ? 

What  does  a  Jury  that  is  selected  by  Masons  to  try  (?)  a  Mason  or 
Odd  Fellow,  or  an  outsider  against  one  of  the  gang,  care  for  evidence  ? 

Except  as  a  too  jjlaiii  e.cposure  to  the  people,  evidence  neither  convicts  nor 
acquits  in  such  cases.  A  jjacked  Jury  is  governed  by  other  influences  and 
obligations  than  evidence  or  their  oath  to  do  justice.] 

* 
' '  It  will  be  seen  that  ijrosecuting  attorney  [hnked  Mason]  and  his 
law  partner  [chief  of  the  '  bar ']  were  indicted  by  the  Grand  Jury  on  the 
jjart  of  the  U.  S.  for  obstructing  justice.  W.  J. . .  and  several  of  his  con- 
federates were  arrested  for  consjiiracy  against  the  Government  in  making 
fi'audulent  entries  on  large  bodies  of  timber  laud.  Four  of  the  A\-itnesses 
could  not  fiirnish  the  bonds  and  were  placed  in  the  penitentiary  until 
court  should  convene.  It  now  transpires  that  two  or  three  days  before 
court  met,  certain  men  [Masons]  not  only  furnished  $800  cash  bail  for  the 
release  of  these  witnesses,  but  chartered  a  steamer  to  go  to  the  penitentiary, 
take  the  witnesses  and  convey  them  to  British  Columbia.  Messrs.  P.  E . . 
and  J. .  are  charged  with  having  concocted  and  carried  out  the  scheme." 

[There  were  plenty  of  other  witnesses  to  be  had,  besides  those  that 
were  spirited  away,  but  they  were  not  wanted  to  testify  against  the  gang. 
And  there  was  also  plenty  of  proof  to  be  had  against  the  gixilty  parties 
who  did  the  siniiting;  but  to  jjroduce  such  i^roof  would  be  in  violation  of 
their  secret-ring  oaths  "/o  Jceej^  their  brothers'  secTetsf"  And  thus  are  the 
most  vile  and  dangerous  criminals  kept  out  of  prison,  and  even  "vindi- 
cated." (?) 

Listen  to  this  !  from  a  Masonic  paper  that  would  pull  on  a  rope  to 
lynch  an  outsider,  less  guilty  of  a  hke  oflence.] 


488  Big  Land  Steals  in  Washington. 

"The  P7-es!{  expressed  its  confidence  wlien  [brother]  J. .  was  assailed 
by  his  enemies,  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  case  against  him.  We  had 
ascertained  to  our  [Masonic]  satisfaction  that  he  was  guilty  of  nothing 
more  than  teehnical  irregularity  or  want  of  sufficient  adherence  to  theforins 
prescribed  for  governmental  business. "     [?] 

[But  when  outsiders  do  the  same  thing,  it  is  declared  and  decreed  to 
be  robberr^,  perjury  and  treason !  And  they  -are  sent  to  prison  for  long 
terms — which  is  their  congratulation.  ] 

"Our  judgment  has  been  coutirmed  by  the  [packed]  Grand  Jury 
which  has  dismissed  the  charges  against  [the  brother]  and  found  ''not  a 
true  bill. '  There  will  be  entire  unanimity  here  [among  the  pagan  brethren] 
in  congratulating  Mr.  J. . .  upon  this  complete  [?]  vindication."  [?] 

[Are  not  such  criminals  who  are  thus  "vindicated"  [?]  by  Masonic 

ridden  courts  and  press,  more  dangerous  to  the  community  and  State  than 

the  plain,  common  burglar,  against  whom  people  lay  in  wait  with  shotguns? 

Then,  why  discriminate  between  them  ? 

*  * 

* 

"The  land  stealings  of  the  [Masonic]  Mill  companies  during  the  past 
few  years  have  been  estimated  by  a  comjietent  and  well-informed  person 
as  high  as  300,000  acres,  worth  on  an  average  $10  an  acre,  [which  should 
have  been  preserved  for  actual  settlers  under  the  Homestead  act,  and  let 
them  make  what  they  could  out  of  the  timber  growing  on  the  tillable  land, 
to  help  them  in  building  theii-  home,  and  the  rest  they  could  j^reserve  for 
the  benefit  of  theii-  children.]  This  $3,000,000  worth  of  land  has  been 
stolen  [by  Masons,  &c.]  from  the  people  uiDon  whom  this  Territory  de- 
pends for  its  develoi^ment — the  hard  working  settlers  who  go  into  the 
woods  and  hew  out  farms  and  homes." 

"To  accomplish  this  enormous  fraud,  the  [Masons]  have  employed  re- 
gular agents,  who  have  openly  solicited  indi\'iduals  to  make  entnes  of 
timber  lands  and  for  that  service  have  paid  from  $50  to  $150  per  quarter 
section."  [And  thus  "ojienly"  committed  perjury  and  subornation  of 
perjury,  fraud  and  conspii-acy.  But  having  the  Government  and  courts 
prostituted,  they  could  do  this  with  impunity,  and  get  to  be  blackleg 
Governors  with  their  plunder.] 

* 

"All  the  talk  of  suing  amounted  to  nothing.     I  am  guarded  in 

my  language  when  I  say  that  in  more  than  thirty  years  of  experience  in 
lumbering  in  CaHfornia,  Oregon  and  Washington,  and  thus  seeing  over 
fifty  equally  and  often  times  greater  suits  begun,  tliey  all  fell  through. 
Tliey  amount  to  nothing.''^ 

[They  should  at  least  open  the  eyes  of  the  people  to  the  j^rostitution 
of  the  Government  and  courts  by  members  of  secret  brotherhoods  who  are 
sworn  to  keep  each  other's  criminal  secrets.^ 

"Sometimes  they  are  settled,  fully  as  often  they  are  withdrawn.  I 
have  known  the  most  stupendous  frauds — such,  for  instance,  as  the  big 


Big  Land  Steals  in  Washington.  489 

timber  steal  at  Humboldt  Bay.  Tlie  charges  wei'e  true,  bxxt  yet  nothing 
was  done.  I  know  that  not  one  of  these  cases  was  iJtished  to  conviction, 
and  I  have  no  fears  of  this  case."  [When  witnesses  are  bent  on  exposing 
such  ring  thieves,  jobs  are  frequently  jjut  tip  against  them,  and  these  false 
cases  are  "pushed  to  conviction."  Whereuiaon  the  blackleg  Governor 
smiles  and  smiles  and  declares  "we  have  a  good  judiciary,"  and  that  the 
"people  clamor"  for  the  punishment  of  such  victims,  and  join  the  prison 
contractors  in  sucking  their  heart's  blood  and  driving  iron  into  their  souls 
and  a  flaming  desire  of  vengeance.  ] 

* 

"All  good  citizens  will  rejoice  that  commissioner  Sparks  has  deter- 
mined to  check  the  rascally  operations  of  the  [Masonic]  mill  companies  in 
the  future  and  to  hold  them  to  account  for  their  past  crimes.  It  is  noto- 
rious here  on  Puget  Sound,  so  notorious  as  not  to  excite  remark,  that 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  acres  of  the  best  and  most  valuable  timber  land 
in  the  territory  have  passed  and  are  yet  jjassing  into  the  hands  of  the 
[Masonic]  mill  companies,  by  means  of  fraud  and  perjury." 

' '  This  accumulation  of  immense  bodies  of  land  in  the  hands  of  a  few 
wealthy  [and  clanish]  owners,  is  in  itself  a  fraud  upon  the  Government 
and  the  peoi)le.  It  was  never  the  intention  of  our  land  laws  to  create  a 
lauded  aristocracy,  and  by  so  doing  to  withhold  from  settlement  audi m- 
jirovement  large  areas  of  country.  On  the  contrary,  their  object  Avas  and 
is  to  distribute  the  public  land  in  small  quantities  among  a  large  number 
of  i^eople,  to  be  by  them  improved  and  made  into  homes  and  farms.  [But 
the  prostituted  court  steps  in  with  its  fraud,  its  bar  (?)  and  expensive 
jugglery,  and  gives  license  to  ring  thieves  to  override  the  laws  and  people.] 

"The  [Masonic]  companies,  by  hiring  transient  employees  and  sailors 
to  file  claims  upon  government  land,  to  falsely  swear  that  the  necessary 
improvements  have  been  made,  and  ujdou  receiving  a  certificate  from  the 
land  ofiice,  [which  would  not  be  given  for  the  benefit  of  outsiders  in  the 
face  of  such  bare-faced  j^erjury  and  subordination  of  perjuiy,  but  only  to 
ring  brothers  of  the  land  office  officials,]  to  convey  the  land  to  their  em- 
ployers for  a  song,  are  gobbling  up  government  land  to  hold.  This  steady 
and  rapid  stealing  of  the  most  conveniently  located  timber  lands  has  been 
going  on  for  many  years,  until  now  the  mill  companies  have  a  practical 
monopoly  of  the  timber  land  near  enough  to  tide  water  to  be  at  present 
available.  This  gives  them  an  advantage  over  the  loggers,  which  they  are 
not  slow  to  avail  themselves  of.  This  is  the  way  the  [Masonic]  mill  com- 
panies fleece  the  loggers:  A  logger  applies  for  a  contract  to  fiimish  a 
boom  of  logs.  If  he  has  timber  of  his  own,  he  is  told  that  the  [Masonic] 
mill  company  has  plenty  of  [stolen]  timber.  Unless,  therefore,  he  will 
cut  logs  on  the  mill  company's  [stolen]  land,  at  their  o-«ti  price  for 
stumpage,  he  must  put  in  his  own  timber  at  a  i^rice  to  be  fixed  by  the 
[Masonic]  company.  '  Furnish  your  own  timber  at  our  price,  or  cut  logs 
on  our  [stolen]  land  at  our  price,'  says  the   [Masonic]  company  to  the 


490  Big  Land  Steals  in  Washington. 

logger.  Sometimes  the  logger  takes  one,  sometimes  tlie  otlier.  In  either 
case  the  i^rice  is  so  regulated  as  to  leave  him  a  bare  subsistence,  while  with 
the  enormous  profits  of  the  transaction  accruing  to  the  [Masonic]  mill 
companies,  they  buy  shij^s,  hire  j^erjurers  to  heli3  steal  more  land,  and  buy 
off  government  ofiicials.  [The  same,  being  generally  brother  masons,  are 
sworn  to  '  keep  and  never  reveal '  these  ring  secrets.  Otherwise  such  cor- 
ruption would  be  more  dangerous  to  themselves  and  less  liable  to  occur.] 
Commissioner  Sparks  -will  fail  to  redress  the  wrongs  to  which  we  have  ad- 
verted, unless  he  avoids  the  mistake  of  selecting  [Masons]  to  conduct  the 
investigation  and  ai^points  men  of  integrity." 

[The  gang  had  secret  influence  enough  at  Washington  to  have  Sparks 
kicked  out,  as  soon  as  he  began  to  make  trouble  for  the  thieves.] 

*  * 

"This  [Masonic]  mill  company  owns  (?)  some  80,000  acres  of 

timber  land,  about  500  acres  of  it  being  around  the  mill." 

"What  has  become  of  the  imj^rovements  on  each  quarter  section  of 
land  owned  by  some  of  the  mill  companies  ?  The  improvements  must  be 
there  on  the  land,  for  the  employees  of  the  [Masonic]  mill  companies  have 
sworn  it.     Ceiiainly !     But  where  are  they  ?  " 

*  * 
* 

"Where  are  the  five  hundred  men  that  took  up  the  land  now  owned 

by  one  of  the  great  [Masonic]  mill  comj)anies,  and  used  as  an  instrument 

to  ojjpress  loggers  and  others  engaged  in  and  connected  with  the  lumber 

business  ?    Echo  answers,  '  Where  ? ' " 

* 

"If  fourteen  years  imprisonment  in  the  jjenitentiary  at  hard  labor  is 
a  proi^er  punishment  for  a  poor  [outsider]  who,  under  the  stress  of  temp- 
tation and  cold  weather,  takes  an  overcoat  that  does  not  belong  to  him, 
Avhat  ought  to  be  done  with  a  [Mason]  or  gang  of  [Masons]  for  steaHng 
land  Avorth  two  millions  of  dollars  ?  " 

[The  blackleg  Governors,  in  their  annual  rejjoi-ts  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior  and  in  their  messages  to  the  Legislature,  had  never  a  word  to 
say  as  to  these  and  other  robberies  done  by  tlieir  ring  brethren,  while  they 
gloated  over  and  increased  the  misery  and  destruction  of  those  who  in  their 
distress  and  distraction  had  stolen  only  a  coat  or  a  pair*  of  blankets.] 

^  [Large  bodies  of  prairie  land  is  like-svise  stolen  by  members  of  the 
gang,  shielded  by  the  prostituted  courts  and  glorified  by  the  ring  press  on 
account  of  their  "ability  and  enterprise;"  while  outsiders  who  only  desii-e 
to  gain  a  few  hundred  acres  honestly  for  their  homes,  are  stigmatized  as 
hogs  and  made  objects  of  attack  and  plunder.] 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Big  land  steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. — How  it  is  done  there. — Brazen 
perjury  and  nobody  iiunished. — The  reason. — Wagon  road  Swindles. 
— Sink  artesian  wells  to  irrigate  "swamp  lands." — "  Tiiree-quarters  of 
the  land  titles  fraudulenV — Murdering  homebuilders,  etc. 

OETWEEN  1864  and  1869  several  grants  of  land  were  made  [to  gangs 
of  masons]  for  wagon  roads  in  Oregon.  The  [gangs]  failed  to  construct 
the  roads  as  required,  and  in  some  cases  no  road  had  been  built,  although 
the  \^ring\  Governor  had  certified  to  constructio7i  and  completion. 

A  special  agent  who  made  a  personal  examination  of  one  of  these 
roads  and  took  affidavits  of  citizens,  rej^orted  construction  a  mere  j^retext, 
and  that  ior  one  7iund7'ed  miles  he  could  not  find  the  trace  of  a  road.  Uf)- 
ward  of  440,000  acres  were  patented  to  the  [gang]  in  1883,  after  this  special 
report  had  been  made. 

Patents  were  issued  to  another  like  gang  after  information  had  been 
received  that  the  charter  of  the  comiaany  had  been  dissolved  by  proceed- 
ings in  the  State  courts.  The  Oregon  Central  Wagon  road  was  located  for 
a  considerable  distance  through  territory  to  which  the  Indian  title  had  not 
been  extinguished,  but  the  lands  were  patented  to  the  gang  [by  their  pagan 
brethren  in  office  at  Washington]  and  over  100,000  acres  were  certified 
which  are  within  the  permanent  Indian  reservation. 

"March  14th,  1888. — The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  to-day  sent  to  the 
President  the  report  of  J.  B.  McNamee  relative  to  land  gx'ant  wagon  roads 
in  Oregon.  The  report  shows  that  grants  of  land  were  made  by  Congress 
in  1864  and  1866  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  these  roads,  over  2,500,000 
acres.  The  report  shows  that  none  of  these  roads  were  ever  constructed, 
although  several  [masonic]  Governors  of  the  State  ceiiified  to  their  com- 
pletion, [for  the  benefit  of  their  brethren  of  the  gang] . 

On  these  certificates  of  the  [masonic]  Governors,  patents  have  been 
issued  to  these  [pagan  brethren]  for  1,000,000  acres. 

"  Immediately  on  securing  certificates  of  completion,  [by  prostituted 
masonic  Governors] ,  the  land  grants  were  sold,  with  a  \'iew  to  jjutting  the 
lands  in  the  hands  of  nominally  'innocent  (?)  purchasers,'  [and  to  thus 
secure  the  protection  of  the  masonic  prostituted  courts,  the  '  good  judi- 
ciary.'] " 

"With  the  report  the  Secretary  submits  a  draft  of  a  bill  to  be  pre- 
sented to  Congress,  repeaUng  all  of  said  granting  acts,  declaring  forfeited 
all  rights  and  titles  and  claims  thereunder,  and  restoring  to  the  isublic  do- 
main all  lands  granted,  excepting  such  as  may  have  been  sold  to  innocent 
purchasers  who  are  actual  settlers,  to  the  extent  of  one  section  to  each  of 
such  purchasers.     The  bill  directs  the  Attorney-General  to  institute  suit 

(491) 


492     Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. 

to  cancel  all  patents  and  certifications  under  said  acts,  with  tlie  exception 
stated  above." 

[But  there  were  too  many  of  the  gang  brethren  behind  the  President, 
in  Congress  and  the  courts,  to  recover  the  stolen  property,  and  punish  the 
perjurers  and  thieves.  And  this,  while  small,  plain  burglary  and  perjury 
of  outsiders  is  held  to  be  and  punished  as  a  crime  without  mercy  or 
charity  !] 

* 

"In  a  letter  to  Sparks,  T.  S.  Lang  tells  how  the  lands  of  Oregon  have 
been  seized  upon  and  held  by  [linked  pagan  gangs].  The  N.  P.  R.,  the 
W.  V.  and  G.  M. ;  the  D.  M.  and  the  Oregon  Mihtary  road.  These 
gangs,  almost  withoid  a  shadow  of  law,  hold  lands  as  follows  :  The  N.  P. 
R.  holds  in  Oregon  alone  279  townships  ;  the  W.  V.  and  C.  M.  wagon  road, 
144  towushijis  ;  O.  M.  wagon  road,  143  townshijas  ;  the  D.  M.  wagon  road, 
154  townships,  aggregating  739  townships,  each  containing  23,000  acres, 
aggregating  17,000,000  acres." 

"Hoiothey  [the  linked  masons]  do  it. — How  many  acres  of  'swamp 
land '  do  you  suppose  is  held  by  one  [mason]  in  this  State  ?  How  many  ? 
Guess  !  Not  many  persons  would  guess  a  milhon  acres.  But  they  would 
have  to  multiply  this  by  thirteen  to  get  at  nearly  the  amount.  O . .  is  now 
holding  over  thirteen  millions  of  acres  of  'swamj)  (?)  land,'  and  he  has  sold 
upwards  of  600,000  acres,  on  which  he  has  paid  twenty  per  cent,  of  the 
purchase  price.  On  the  other  13,000,000  acre  farm  he  has  not  paid  a  cent, 
nor  is  the  State  or  Government  deriving  a  cent  of  revenrie  from  this  laud. 
On  one  filing  he  'took  up'  1,336,000  acres,  which  land  extends,  in  town- 
ships, from  six  miles  east  of  Lebanon,  southeasterly,  entirely  through  the 
State.  These  figures  are  commended  to  the  point  of  investigation,  and  a 
refutation  of  their  truthfulness  challenged. " — Astorian. 

[Such  are  the  practical  workings  of  secret  sworn  brethren  as  officials  in 
our  Governments  and  courts.^ 

* 

"  In  a  valley,  thirty  miles  long,  ditches  were  dug  from  the  stream,  dams 

built,  the  land  flooded,  and  then  taken  up   [by  the  brethren]  under  the 

swamp  land  act."      [Brazen  perjury,  its  subordination  by  brethren  in 

office,  and  their  protection  by  prostituted  courts.] 

*  * 

* 

"In  Harney  Valley,  Or.,  is  a  tract  of  land  which  was  taken  up  as 
swam  13  land,  but  upon  which  the  owner  is  sinking  an  artesian  well  for  irri- 
gating i^urjjoses.  An  ex-State  official  holds  a  large  block  of  these  '  swamp ' 
lands,  Avhich,  he  informed  some  possible  purchasers,  were  "capable  of  culti- 
vation if  thoroughly  irrigated." 

[Thus  do  mystic  lurking  blacklegs  grow  sleek — and  influential  at 
court — vnih  stolen  abundance.]  ""^Tiile  the  poor  man  [and  outsider]  is 
satisfied  with  160  acres  and  thereby  helps  to  build  VLp  a  substantial  com- 


Big  Land  Steals  in  Oeegon,  California,  etc.    493 

munity  tliat  euriclies  a  State  by  population  and  wealth,  giving  life  and 
acti^'ity  to  many  industries.  If  he  fails  to  comply  with  even  the  technical 
reciuirements  of  the  land  laws,  on  account  of  sickness,  i^overty  or  ignor- 
ance of  the  land  laws  [wherein  judges  disagree]  the  actual  settler  who  has 
had  the  courage  to  go  upon  land  covered  with  timber,  lea\'ing  behind  him 
friends,  kindred  and  society,  erect  an  humble  home,  endure  ijrivations  and 
suffer  great  hardshijjs,  the  pioneer  of  this  western  country,  in  paving  the 
Avay  for  the  march  of  civihzation,  frequently  loses  his  claim.  Is  there  any 
justice  in  this  ?  Has  not  Congress  [and  the  courts]  favored  [masouic] 
corjjorations  and  individuals  into  great  influence  ?  [Masonic]  corpora- 
tions [and  masonic  individuals  and  gangs]  should  be  treated  as  common 
individuals." 

"Is  there  any  wonder  at  the  murmurings  of  the  people  ?  If  Congress 
[and  the  courts]  does  not  hsten  to  them  more  they  will  become  as  resist- 
less as  Niagara,  and  then  our  country  will  witness  a  crisis  which  will 
astonish  the  world  !  "  [For  "  they  know  their  rights,  and  knowing  dare 
maintain."] 

* 

"  Depredations  upon  i^ublic  timber  are  universal,  flagrant  and  Kmit- 
less  [by  members  of  the  gang,  6utsiders  being  snatched  up  and  jjunished 
too  quick] .  Whole  ranges  of  townships  covered  with  timber*,  the  forests 
at  headwaters  of  streams,  and  timber  land  lying  along  water  courses  and 
railroad  lines,  have  been  cut  over  by  [masonic]  lumber  comj)auies  under 
pretense  of  title  derived  through  pre-emption  and  homestead  entries  made 
by  their  employees,  and  afterward  assigned  to  the  companies  [of  subordin- 
ation and  perjury.]  Steam  saw-mills  are  established  promiscuously  on 
public  lands.  Large  operators  employ  hundreds,  and  in  some  cases  thous- 
ands of  men,  cutting  government  timber  and  sawing  it  up  into  lumber  and 
shingles,  which,  when  needed  and  purchased  by  local  citizens,  can  only 
be  obtained  by  them  at  ]iY\Ges  governed  by  the  vKirket  value  of  timber  brought 
over  expensive  iransjyortatioii  routes  from  2wints  of  legitimate  sup^ily." 

"The  Montana  [masonic]  Imj^rovement  company,  a  corijoration 
stocked  for  $2,000,000  and  in  which  the  N.  P.  Eailroad  Co.  is  reputed  to 
be  the  principal  owner,  was  formed  in  1883  for  the  piu'pose  of  monojioliz- 
ing  the  timber  traffic  in  Idaho  and  Montana,  and  under  a  contract  with  the 
railroad  company,  running  for  twenty  years,  has  exploited  the  timber  from 
unsurvei/ed  public  lands  for  great  distances  along  the  line  of  said  road, 
shijiping  the  j^roduct  of  the  joint  trespass  and  controlling  rates  in  the  gen- 
eral market.  Suits  have  been  commenced,  and  others  are  in  jjrogi'ess 
against  the  companies  for  the  recovery  of  damages  to  the  amount  of  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  [But  the  court  officials  being  masons,  the  suits 
were  a  farce,  and  the  gangs  were  protected  fron^  jjunishment,  while  out- 
siders were  being  sent  to  prison  for  httle  crimes.  ] 

"These  lands  were  unsurveyed.  No  patents  had  been  issued  for 
them.     The  railroad  had  not  attempted  to  be  definitely  located  past  the 


494r    Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. 

lands  in  question  until  after  the  date  hy  latp,  July  4th,  1811,  for  its  comple- 
tion, and  there  is  no  provision  of  law  by  which  rights  can  be  acquired  after 
the  expiration  of  that  time.  The  road  had  not  been  definitely  located  its 
entire  length.     //  had  no  right  to  these  or  other  lands. " 

"The  law  allowing  'right  of  way,'  and  land  grant  railroad  companies 
to  obtain  timber  and  other  material  for  the  construction  of  their  roads 
from  pubHc  lands  adjacent  to  the  line  of  the  roads  was,  in  effect,  extended 
to  permit  timber  to  be  cut  wherever  the  [masonic]  companies  desired,  the 
word  'adjacent'  being  interj^reted  [by  the  'good  jiidiciaiy ']  to  mean 
practically  anywhere  in  the  United  States.  Such  HberaHty  of  interpreta- 
tion, amounting  to  almost  iinlimited  privileges  not  warrarited  by  laiv,  and 
resulting  in  detriment  to  the  interests  of  settlers  ah-eady  upon  the  lands, 
or  of  persons  desmng  to  settle  in  future  upon  such  lands,  is  entirely  dispro- 
portionate to  the  benefit  which  they  are  likely  to  derive  from  the  railroads 
which  have  thus  been  permitted  [by  the  prostituted  courts]  to  desijoil  the 
lands  of  their  timber."  There  have  been  various  misinterpretations  of  law 
[by  the  brethi-en  acting  as  courts  (?)]  and  rulings  and  instructions  to  pro- 
mote and  protect  [linked  masonic]  trespassers  ujion  public  timber.  [While 
outsiders  are  sti-ipped  of  their  property,  sent  to  prison  and  held  there  as 
"criminals"  by  the  secret  influence  of  the  worthy-grand-chief-criminals 
of  the  lodge,  as  scapegoats  for  their  own  protected  crimes.  ] 

•X-  * 

"B . . ,  having  paid  men  $50  each  for  swearing  on  government  timber  land 
under  pretense  that  they  were  going  to  live  on  said  land,  but  really  for 
the  purpose  of  surrendering  their  light  to  him  [if  they  refused  or  raised 
on  the  price  they  would  be  prosecuted  for  perjury,  but  comjjlying,  they 
are  protected  by  the  'good  judiciary']  by  which  he  gobbled  up  64,000 
acres  of  valuable  timber  land  [the  masonic  officials,  of  course,  winking 
at  and  concealing  the  job]  was  yesterday  convicted  of  subordination  of 
perjiaiy,"  [he  evidently  had  a  quan-el  with  others  in  the  gang,  otherwise, 
he  will  not  be  punished  very  much,  if  at  all,  (N.B. — He  was  turned  loose) 
and  note,  the  pile  he  has  made  at  $10  or  $20  per  acre  while  under  the  pro- 
tection of  brethren  in  office.] 

* 
"A  man  who  claims  to  know,  asserts  that  he  knows  of  his  own  person- 
al knowledge  that  about  three-fourths  of  all  the  lands  proved  uja  on  and  jjaid 
for  in  the  last  ten  years  in  the  United  States  laud  office  in  San  Francisco 
have  been  patented  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States." 

*  * 

* 

"  According  to  the  Government  reports,  in  twenty-four  townships  in 

Colorado  no  evidence  was  found  that  any  surveys  had  been  made,  although 

surveys  had  been  paid  for  [to  the  brethren].     No  work  was  done  under 

the  contract  for  surveying  the  Ute  Indian  lands,  but  fictitious  field  notes 

[sworn  to  as  genuine]  were  furnished.     Nearly  the  whole  of  the  Territory 

of  Wyoming  and  large  portions  of  Montana  have  been  surveyed  under  the 


Bia  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc.      495 

[fraudulent]  deposit  system,  and  the  lands  on  the  streams  fraudulently 
taken  up  under  the  desert  land  act,  to  the  exclusion  of  future  settlers  de- 
siring homes  in  these  Territories." 

"  Among  the  indictments  found  are  three  against  the  suiTeyoi  general 
of  San  Francisco."  [Such  "indictments"  of  masons  are  done  for  a  blind, 
to  make  some  little  show,  as  though  they  were  subject  to  the  penalties  of 
law  like  other  men,  they  being  finally — at  great  expense  to  the  people  and 
profit  to  the  gang — "acquitted"  and  "completely  vindicated,"  (?)  Avhilo 
poor  devils  of  the  common  peojjle,  for  stealing  a  few  dollars  openly,  are 
sent  to  State's  prison  for  life  !J 

"This  Maxwell  land  grant,  called  'the  Elkins  steal,'  originally  in- 
cluded 92,000  acres.  Patents  were  granted  to  the  [masonic]  claimants  some 
years  ago,  however,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  hm  millions  of  acres.  This 
faculty  of  expansion  is  peculiar  to  the  [masonic]  land-grabbers'  posses- 
sions. There  is  always  a  little  more  to  take  in  [when  the  officials  are 
brethren  sworn  ^  to  ever  conceal  and  never  rereaV^  and  [masonic]  surveyor 
generals  in  the  Territories  have  been  remarkably  complaisant  in  allowing 
it.  The  protests  of  the  citizens  of  New  Mexico  who  alleged  fraud  in  the 
location  and  boundaries  of  this  claim,  received  no  attention.  There  was 
not  only  no  investigation,  but  the  claim  was  rushed  through  the  land  office 
by  [masonic]  officials  without  regard  for  the  interests  of  the  Government 
or  the  rights  of  the  occupants  of  the  land.  The  [fraudident]  boundaries  Avere 
accepted  as  genuine,  and  a  domain  given  to  a  fraudulent  [masonic]  syndi- 
cate that  would  have  made  comfortable  homes  for  a  hundred  thousand 
people.'" 

' '  A  great  many  flaws  have  been  discovered  in  the  robbery  by  which 
the  patents  to  this  land  were  acquii-ed,  and  Commissioner  Sparks  has 
availed  himself  of  them  to  re-open  the  question  of  title.  [So  he  was 
kicked  out]  and  the  [masonic]  thieves  have  evicted  the  settlers  and  rioted 
in  possession  of  their  plunder." 

"  It  is  interesting  to  note  how  a  modest  [secret  ring]  contract  survey- 
or could  make  a  million  dollars  in  so  few  years.  It  was  under  the  cover 
of  a  law  ostensibly  designed  to  facilitate  the  settlement  of  piiblic  lauds. 
It  was  in  fact  the  device  of  a  cunning  [secret]  ring  of  [masons]  to 
seize  upon  large  quantities  of  the  public  domain,  [under  the  protection 
of  the  ' good  judiciary.']  " 

"It  is  notorious  that  large  tracts  of  useless  alkali  land  were  surveyed 
in  Nevada,  which  will  not  be  settled  up  in  a  century's  time,  and  lines 
were  alleged  to  have  been  run  over  precipitous  and  almost  inaccessible 
moimtains.  Instead  of  the  [masonic]  ring  complying  with  the  law, 
which  required  the  surveyor  to  deposit  his  original  field  notes  with  the 
surveyor-general,  B . .  had  a  bureau  [of  brethren]  in  this  city  in  which  the 
field  notes  were  carefully  edited.     After  he  had  maniijulated  them  they 


496     Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. 

■were  turned  over  to  the  surveyor-general  [with  a  wink  and  sign]  accom- 
panied by  the  usual  oath  that  they  were  the  original  field  notes." 

' '  Is  there  any  wonder  that  among  the  assets  of  a  man  who  headed 
such  a  ring  such  items  as  these  should  figure  :  1320  acres  of  patented  land 

$165,000.     One-fifth  interest  of  stock  ranch,  Big  Horn,  $20,000.    Five 

thousand  five  hundred  acres,  more  or  less,  $110,000.  Fifteen  thousand 
acres  of  '  swamj)'  and  overflowed  land,  $37,500.  One-third  interest  in  cattle 
ranches  and  stock,  $150,000.  Six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  redwood 
laud.  But  it  is  not  only  the  amount  of  money  which  the  [masonic]  ring 
has  '  secured, '  much  trouble  will  result  in  the  future  from  the  filing  of 
l^lats  based  upon  purely  imaginary  surveys." 

"The  Chro7ii.cle  in  vain  demanded  that  the  land  office  at  "Washington 
should  investigate  and  break  ui3  the  fraudiilent  system.  Irrefragable 
proof  of  the  correctness  of  our  charges  was  produced,  but  no  notice  was 
taken  of  them,  because  the  Washington  land  office  formed  part  of  the  ring, 
[they  being  masonic  brethren,  of  course  they  could  not  reveal  each  others 
secrets.y^ 

' '  If  the  tragedy  of  Friday  results  in  the  investigation  of  this  [ma- 
sonic] ring,  blood  will  not  have  been  spilt  in  vain. " . . . .  "Mr.  B . .  declared 
that  '  he  would  live,  God  willing,  to  steal  some  few  more  acres  from  Uncle 
Sam. '  Previous  to  the  death  of  his  daughter,  a  year  ago,  he  was  a  promi- 
nent member  of  masonry  and  other  secret  societies." 

* 
"  It  is  not  alone  in  CaHf  ornia  that  antagonisms  are  growing  up  be- 
tween [masonic]  corj)orate  interests  [with  their  sjiecial  pri-vdleges]  and 
those  classed  as  agricultural  pursuits.  The  farmer  feels  that  his  rights  are 
being  invaded  alike  by  the  [masonic]  railroads  and  cattlemen.  Elsewhere 
the  antagonisms  are  assuming  an  even  more  formidable  aspect.  Through 
the  monstrous  and  illegal  usurpations  of  j)ublic  lands  by  [masonic]  cattle 
raising  companies,  many  of  them  foreign,  the  citizen  of  the  Western  Ter- 
ritories is  practically  denied  the  ijossibility  in  many  localities  of  obtaining 
a  home  for  himself  and  family.  If  he  can  find  a  vacant  tract  which  some 
penniless  cowboy  has  not  pre-emptied  for  his  employers,  and  takes  it  up, 
all  the  pressure  of  [masonic]  greed,  cruelty  and  lawlessness,  backed  by 
unlimited  resources,  [such  as  prostituted  officials  and  courts]  is  exercised 
to  drive  him  away;  indeed,  the  scandals  of  the  [masonic  tainted]  Interior 
Dejiartment  show  us  that  the  small  farmer  has  not  one  chance  in  a  thous- 
and to  succeed  in  all  that  vast  domain  where  now  the  beef-grazier  has  fixed 
his  gonfalon.  Congress  has  been  led  [by  secret  infiuences]  to  encourage 
these  spoUations  out  of  all  reason  and  sense  of  justice.  Foreign  cattle- 
raising  [masonic]  syndicates,  to  say  nothing  of  our  oion  [ga7igs\  control 
ahontf fty  millions  of  acres  of  the  richest  lands  on  the  continent.  The  ab- 
sorption of  such  vast  districts  is  not  with  a  view  of  raising  cattle  for  im- 
mediate market  sujoply,  but  to  lay  the  bases  for  immense  fortunes  in  the 
futui-e.     It  is  so  in  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Colorado  and  Wyoming.      The 


Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc.      497 

gigantic  sliadow  of  these  growing  monopolies  has  akeady  begun  to  darken 
all  the  Rocky  mountain  country.  Yet  tbere  are  thousands  of  individual 
citizens,  who  Avould  gladly  exchange  poverty  in  over-populated  centres  for 
comfort  on  their  own  acres  in  the  West,  if  fraud,  violence  and  rapine  [by 
the  linked  masonic  gangs  and  prostituted  courts]  had  not  kept  them  out 

of  their  natural  birthright." 

*  * 

[By  the  connivance  of  secret  brethren  in  office]  "There  is  hardly  a 
title  to  one  of  the  tracts  of  territory  iTsed  by  any  one  of  the  large  cattle 
companies  of  the  West  which  wdll  bear  [honest]  insi^ection. "  [And  the 
same  can  be  said  of  the  large  tracts  of  farming  and  timber  lands,  acquired 
by  gangs  and  individual  masons.  ]  ' '  The  land  frauds  in  the  West  have 
grown  to  such  a  degree  [by  the  connivance  of  secret  ring  officials] ,  that  the 
honest  title  has  become  the  exception,  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  entries  of 
land  in  New  Mexico  in  the  last  ten  years  are  fraudulent.  Lands  would  be 
entered  [by  plain  perjury  and  subordination  of  perjury]  in  the  names  of 
people  who  have  never  existed,  or  of  peojDle  who  are  dead.  Proof  would 
be  submitted  in  the  shape  of  forged  papers  [and  received  as  genuine  with 
a  wink  by  the  brethren  in  office] .  After  the  patent  was  issued  in  the  name 
of  the  fictitious  or  dead  personage,  then,  within  a  few  days,  a  deed  of  sale 
to  some  [masonic]  capitalist  would  be  placed  upon  record  signed  with  a 
forged  name  of  the  alleged  person  to  whom  the  patent  was  issued,  [thus 
making  it  necessary  for  the  gang  to  secure  the  election  of  brethren  as 
county  clerks  and  auditors  as  well  as  to  have  as  land  office  officials  breth- 
ren who  are  sworn  to  '  ever  conceal  and  never  reveal '  each  others  secrets] . 
Through  wholesale  ring  swindhng  of  this  character  enormous  tracts  of 
land  have  been  gotten  together. "  [Herein  can  be  seen  the  caiise  for  the 
howl  against  Sparks,  by  the  gang  and  its  press,  for  delaying,  pending  investi- 
gation, the  issuing  of  land  patents,  and  the  secret  influence  that  kicked 
Sparks  out  of  office.  I  never  knew  of  an  honest  settler  complaining  of 
Sparks;  thei/  are  in  no  hurry  about  their  patents  which  often  remain  un- 
called for  in  the  land  office  for  years  after  their  receipt  has  been  adver- 
tised.] 

"Murdering  Jionest  locators. — [I  give  this  as  an  example  of  what  is  be- 
ing done  against  the  homebuilder  in  the  West  and  Northwest  all  tlie  time, 
in  one  way  or  another,  on  account  of  the  prostitution  of  the  government 
offices,  which  are  thus  made  a  flaming,  blistering  curse  to  the  good  citizen.] 
A  letter  from  a  brother-in-law  of  a  member  of  a  former  Cabinet,  who  is 
now  in  New  Mexico,  gives  an  interesting  picture  of  the  way  one  of  the 

richest  valleys  was  captured The  [hnked  Masonic]  ring  had  their 

eyes  ujion  this  valley  for  a  long  time.  They  were  the  first  to  get  their 
agents  ujion  the  ground  (after  the  driving  out  of  the  Indians),  to  cai>ture 
the  entire  valley  and  sell  it  to  an  English  syndicate.  C. .  . ,  the  then  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  F. . . ,  the  Register  of  the  Land  Office,  Surveyor 
32 


498     Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. 

General  A. . . ,  U.  S.  Marshal  M. . . ,  and  other  [Masonic]  citizens  who  are 
appHcants  for  office,  engineered  the  scheme. 

By  sending  out  fraudulent  locators  in  great  numbers  they  wei-e  able 
to  secui-e  the  better  part  of  the  land  in  this  valley.  They  found  one  very 
important  obstacle  in  their  way,  however.  Two  settlers  by  the  names  of 
G. . .  and  E.  . .  had  located  lands  near  two  of  the  most  jilentifiil  springs  in 
the  valley.  The  [gang]  found  that  it  was  necessary  to  have  these  springs 
in  order  to  negotiate  the  sale.  The  young  Kansas  City  men  refused  to 
sell  their  claims.  They  were  so  well  satisfied  that  they  had  made  up  their 
minds  to  live  and  die  in  the  American  valley.  So  a  charge  was  trumjied 
up  by  the  U.  S.  Marshal  against  the  holders  of  the  land  near  the  valuable 
Bpnngs,  and  two  dejjuty  marshals  were  sent  to  make  the  arrests.  The  U. 
S.  Marshal  was  in  the  j)lot  to  obtain  these  lands,  and  so,  as  is  alleged,  was 
the  [Masonic]  Judge.  It  was  evident  that  they  had  the  power  to  harass 
and  annoy  G. . .  and  E.  . .  into  giving  up  their  valuable  locations.  The 
two  deputies  sent  out  were  very  desperate  characters.  No  one  charges 
that  the  [Masonic]  ring  directed  them  to  kill  the  two  locators,  but  it  was 
well  understood  that  they  had  unUmited  authority  in  enforcing  the  order 
of  arrest.  The  two  locators  were  plucky  men.  They  doubtless  under- 
stood the  bogus  order  of  arrest,  [as  such  jobs  are  very  common],  and  re- 
fused to  obey  it.  The  [Masonic]  secret  of  the  struggle  at  the  springs  has 
never  been  made  known.  The  two  locators  were  killed.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  killed  by  the  two  [brethren]  who  were  sent  out  to 
arrest  them.  Messrs.  C. . .  and  M.  . . ,  who  were  members  of  the  combina- 
tion to  capture  these  lands,  were  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of  G. . .  's  jjlace 
the  afternoon  of  the  murder.  The  bodies  of  the  two  locators  were  left  as 
they  were  shot  for  six  or  eight  days,  before  the  murder  became  publicly 
known.  Meanwhile  the  two  deputies  had  been  fiirnished  with  two  horses 
and  plenty  of  money  and  had  escaj^ed.  [Of  course,  they  feared  nothing 
from  the  Masonic  courts,  but  the  people  would  have  lynched  them  and, 
perhaps,  would  also  have  killed  the  'good  judiciary, 'which  needs  killing.] 
A  great  excitement  followed  the  discovery  of  the  murders.  [In  sjDite  of 
the  ring  press  that  bed  about  the  facts,  threw  dirt  in  the  eyes  of  the  people 
and  jx stifled  the  'officers  of  the  law.']  Public  opinion  forced  the  Governor 
to  oifer  a  reward  for  the  arrest  of  the  two  '  officers  of  the  law, '  [which  is 
very  unusiial.]  They  were  afterwards  arrested,  but  were  released  by  the 
gang,  who  attacked  the  jail  and  let  out  all  of  the  prisoners,  [withimiiunity, 
because  the  county  officials  were  brethren.]  When  the  liveryman  who 
furnished  the  horses  to  the  escaping  murderers  learned  for  what  purpose 
they  had  been  used,  he  went  to  Judge  C. . .  and  demanded  pay  for  his 
horses.  He  also  preferred  the  same  request  to  the  then  Surveyor  General. 
They  tried  to  resist  his  claim,  but  he  told  them  that,  if  they  did,  J/e  would 
tell  all  that  lie  knew  about  the  American  Valley  transaction.  His  claim  was 
paid. 

It  is  needless  to  sav  that  the  land  stained  with  the  blood  of  two  honest 


Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc.     499 

settlers  was  finally  captured  [?]  by  this  [Masonic]  gang,  and  sold  by  them 
to  a  body  of  English  capitalists  for  a  large  sum. 

That  the  Government  will  ever  be  able  to  get  at  the  real  facts  of  the 
case,  so  as  to  award  the  proper  punishment  and  to  set  aside  these  fraudu- 
lent titles,  remains  to  be  seen.  High  social  influences  and  powerful  [link- 
ed secret]  ones  stand  between  these  men  and  punishment.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  [Masonic]  influences  of  both  political  parties  iti  the  ter?-i- 
tories  work  hand  in  hand  to  carry  out  schemes  of  plunder.  [Witness  my 
case.] 

Some  of  the  largest  fortunes  of  Washington  have  been  made  in  this 

rich  and  fruitful  field  of  the  pubHc  lands  [and  perjury,  at  the  expense  and 

often  the  hearts'  blood  of  homebuilders.  ]     To  be  Surv'eyor  General  of  a 

territory  for  even  a  short  time,  has  been  enough  to  secure  an  independent 

fortune." 

*  * 

* 

"  One  of  the  richest  [Masons]  in  Washington  to-day  is  General  B. . . 
He  is  a  polished,  diplomatic  gentleman  who  has  represented  us  abroad. 
I  asked  the  source  of  his  fortune  and  was  informed  that  he  was  once  Sur- 
veyor General  in  California,  at  which  time  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
fortune.  A  gentleman  who  recently  jsassed  over  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road said,  that  when  he  reached  a  certain  jslace  in  California,  the  conduc- 
tor called  the  jDassengers'  attention  to  the  fact  that  they  were  riding 
through  the  domain  of  General  B. . .  For  an  hour  this  swift  moving  train 
was  in  constant  sight  of  his  ^ands." 

[But  the  courts  are  clogged  when  they  undertake  to  work  against  the 
interest  of  such  brethren. 

Instead  of  kilhng  settlers  on  the  spot,  to  steal  and  ravage  their  homes, 
it  is  found  to  be  more  profitable  to  the  gang  to  drag  them  into  court  (?) 
which  is  the  more  usual  way;  when  they  are  betrayed  and  robbed  by  their 
attorneys  (?),  'members  of  the  bar,'  (court  gang),  and  raih'oaded  through 
to  State's  prison,  the  officials  of  which  being  brethren  in  the  gang.     And 
then  by  these  brethren,  exercising  a  censorship  over  the  victims'  letters, 
the  real  facts  in  the  cases  can  be  concealed  from  the  j)ublic  (as  in  my  case), 
while  the  robberies  are  being  completed,  the  plunder  spent  or  secured, 
and  the  grasping  midnight  gentry  grow  sleek  with  stolen  abundance,  while 
their  victims  are  waiting,  suffering  and  pleading  in  vain  for  justice  !] 
"Beware,  my  Lord,  of  jealousy. 
It  is  the  gi'een-ej-ed  monster,  which  doth  make 
The  meat  it  feeds  on." 

* 
"The  acting  commissioner,  in  making  this  report  to  Congress,  says 
that  the  [numerous]  cases  mentioned  are  to  be  regarded  as  merely  '  in- 
dicative of  the  situation. '  There  has  never  been  any  special  investigation 
to  determine  the  entire  amount  of  public  lands  thus  illegally  held.  Re- 
ports from  various  agents  printed  in  the  document  just  mentioned,  show  a 


500      Big  Land  Steals  in  Oregon,  California,  etc. 

condition  of  things  similar  to  tliat  in  Colorado  in  all  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories of  the  Northwest. 

The  document  contains  a  small  volume  of  wailing  appeals  from  settlers 
who  have  been  driven  off  from  their  properties,  [by  mystic  gangs  -with 
sui^reme  influence  at  court,  Avhile  their  plundered  victims  cannot  even  get 
a  hearing  in  the  i^ress.  ] 

This  repoi-t,  filled  to  overflowing  "vvith  stories  of  the  tramj^Hng  of 
[Masonic]  cori>orations  (many  of  them  foreign)  over  the  rights  and 
i:)roperties  of  our  Western  pioneers,  did  not  attract  the  slightest  notice  in 
the  [Masonic]  Senate." 

"These  powerful  individuals  command  some  of  the  most  j)Owerful 
political  and  [Masonic]  influences  at  Washington.  The  jiresent  official, 
Avho  has  been  trying  to  put  a  stop  to  the  gigantic  frauds  in  the  West,  is  al- 
ready being  made  to  feel  the  influence  of  the  great  [Masonic]  rings.  He 
finds  the  task  before  him  greater  than  any  one  man  can  hope  to  accomplish, 
unless  steadily  and  untiringly  backed  by  the  moral  influence  of  the  whole 
administration,  [which  kicked  him  oiit]. 

To  seek  to  control  and  pimish  the  [Masonic]  thieves  who,  under  cover 
of  official  protection,  unchecked  have  plundered  the  pubHc  domain  of  great 
royalties,  are  tasks  which  may  well  stagger  the  most  energetic  and  most 
ambitiously  honest  of  men.  T.   C.   C." 

[The  General  Government  must  be  reformed  by  the  ballots  of  anti- 
Masons,  and  made  siipreme  over  all  the  secret-midnight-clanish-high- 
binder  governments  that  exist  within  the  same  and  are  gnawing  at  its  vitals 
and  sucking  the  hearts  blood  of  its  best  citizens.  Or  the  time  is  near  at 
hand  when  the  suffering  children  and  children's  children  of  the  robbed 
and  ravaged  Tsill  demand  a  settlement,  and  that  their  stolen  heritage  be  re- 
stored from  the  spoils  of  lurking  Masonry — that  equal  justice  shall  be 
done ! 

Nor  will  it  be  such  a  tame  affair  as  that  now  transpiring  in  Ireland, 
biit  will  be  discussed  Tvith  cold  steel  and  dynamite  by  the  hundred 
tons  instead  of  hot  mush  and  jjalaver.       Press  not  falling  men  too  far  !] 


"Certaia  residents  of  Cahfornia  have  been  of  late  spending  some 
time  in  Oregon  in  the  eff'ort  to  discover  whether  they  own  any  swamj? 
land  in  this  State.  They  claim  to  have  been  taken  in  by  that  loveliest 
of  swamj)  angels  who  lived  so  long  in  Lane  county,  and  who  deposited 
his  slender  form  in  an  old  arm  chair  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  office 
at  Salem  when  the  bill  relative  to  swamjj  lands  was  pending,  and  when 
he  learned  that  the  Governor  had  approved  it,  ofi'ered  for  fihng  his 
modest  claim  for  all  of  Eastern  and  Southern  Oregon  that  was  not  proved 
to  be  high  and  dry  land.  Then  the  legislatiires  met  in  the  old  Holman 
block  on  Commercial  street,  and  Hen  Owen  was  too  cumbersome  to  move 
far  or  move  quickly,  so  he  planted  his  armchair  within  reach  of  Sam 
May,  then  Secretai-y  of   State,  to    be  convenient.      There  was  a  system 


Big  Land  Steals  in  Okegon,  California,  etc.      501 

of  grapevine  telegraph  iu  vogue  among  the  conspirators,  and  the  moment 
the  executive  signature  was  affixed  this  vine  was  set  in  motion,  and  less 
than  two  seconds  had  not  intervened  before  Hen  Owens  was  sho\'ing 
his  document  into  Sam  May's  hand  and  demanding  that  it  be  put  on 
file.  Some  simple  souls  may  think  this  is  exaggerated,  but  they  don't 
know  the  history  of  Oregon  swamp  land  legislation,  if  they  treasure  such 
a  thought.  The  innocents  from  CaHfomia  are  trying  to  prove  their 
right  to  some  of  this  land  by  purchase,  and  have  got  so  far  as  to  learn 
that  they  are  badly  sold.  One  thing  they  all  agree  on,  and  that  is  that 
Oregon  swamp  land  matters  are  muddled,  that  many  a  smudle  has  been 
practiced,  and  that  government  agents  who  came  here  on  the  trade 
were  taken  into  partnership,  Avhile  the  one  who  made  an  honest  inves- 
tigation was  suddenly  recalled.  Those  are  the  conclusions  the  Cahfomia 
visitors  have  come  to." 

[Such  IS    practical    masonry — they    do  this    mth  imi^unity,  because 
their  brethren  are  in  office.^ 


OF   Tf(V 

"CTNIVERSIT'X 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Railroads  big  grants,  etc.,  in  the  Nortliwest,  etc. — How  tliey  are  "worked. 
— Wliat  they  cost  the  gangs. — What  they  control. — A  serAole  and  pur- 
chased press. — ^Advice  to  settlers. — What  a  "territorial  pioneer" 
says. — ^What    the  people    say. — "Awake!  Arise!    or   be    fokever 

FALLEN  ! 

iVlR.  S..,  agent  of  the  N.  P.  Railroad  company  [masonic],  visited 
several  towns  hereabouts  [in  Washington  Territory]  and  finally  left  for 
the  East.  Immediately  upon  his  departure  it  was  noticed  that  nearly  all 
the  jjurchasable  jDapers  in  this  section  became  strenuous  supjjorters  of  the 
[masonic]  company,  and  were  vociferously  opposed  to  forfeiture  of  its 
unearned  land  grant." 

' '  When  Mr.  S . .  returned,  he  wrote  some  letters  for  the  press,  from 
one  of  these  the  following  extract  is  taken.  It  refers  to  the  Cascade 
Branch  of  the  N.  P.  Railroad  in  Washington  Territory." 

"The  cost  of  the  branch  will  be  about  .^7,000,000,  of  which  the  great 
tunnel  AviU  consume  about  $2,000,000.  The  company  exjject  to  obtain 
the  money  for  construction  by  the  issue  of  bonds  at  the  rate  of  $25,000  a 
mile.  It  is  thought  there  will  be  a  margin  between  the  actual  cost  of  con- 
struction and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  bonds  nearly  sufficient  to 
build  the  tunnel." 

"The  length  of  this  branch  is 245  mUes.  Its  construction,  including 
two  miles  of  tunnel,  wiU  cost  $7,000,000.  The  land  grant  'in  aid'  of  its 
building  is  forty  square  miles,  or  25,600  acres  for  every  lineal  mile  of 
rodd,  that  is  to  say  for  building  this  branch  the  comjaany  will  claim  title 
to  6,272,000  acres  of  pubHc  land,"  [and  own  the  raikoad  besides.]  "This 
laud  lies  in  alternate  sections,  with  those  reserved  by  the  Government. 
Not  an  acre  of  jiubhc  land  Avithin  the  limits  of  the  railroad  grant  can  be 
ptirchased  of  Government  at  less  than  $2.50  per  acre.  The  large  area  of 
coal  lands  lying  therein  is  obtainable  from  Government  only  by  paymg 
$20  per  acre.  At  Government  price  ($2.50  per  acre)  the  value  of  the  land 
grant  to  the  railroad  for  this  branch  aggregates  $15,080,000,  considerably 
more  than  double  the  [liberal,  not  counting  inside  stealing]  estimated  cost 
of  the  whole  line,  tunnel  and  all.  In  this  we  have  not  included  the  largely 
increased  value  of  lands  containing  coal  and  iron,  thousands  of  acres  of 
which  are  included  in  the  grant.  Nor  has  the  real  value  of  the  land  been 
given.  On  the  west  side  of  the  mountains  the  average  value  of  the  land 
grant  is  not  less  than  $10  per  acre.  The  average  value  along  the  whole  line 
of  road,  at  a  low  estimate,  is  not  less  than  $5  jser  acre,  or  a  valuation  of 
$31,360,000,  nearly /oi<r  and  one-half  times  the  costof  its  construction. "  Upon 
what  grounds  is  this  enormous  surrender  of  jjubhc  property  demanded  ? 
Ul^on  what  reasoning  can  it  be  justified  ?     Why  should  [masonic  rings] 


Advice  to  Settlers.  503 


be  thus  exceptionally  favored  ?  Why  should  public  property  be  used  to 
build  railroads  for  private  ownekship  ?  Why,  in  addition  to  presenting 
a  complete  railroad  to  a  [masonic]  corporation  should  it  be  given  a  subsidy 
quadruple  its  value  ?  Have  [hnked  masons]  any  greater  claims  upon  the 
public  than  other  men  ?  Ai-e  they  entitled  to  more  consideration  than 
other  citizens  ?  [Outsiders  cannot  get  any  such  concessions.]  Is  not  this 
[gang]  entitled  to  less  ?  Has  it  not  forfeited  its  right  to  its  claim  by  long 
continued  and  exasj^erating  delays  ?  For  more  than  twenty  years  it  has 
played  fast  and  loose  with  the  Government.  It  was  conceived  in  [mystic] 
fraud.  The  original  owners  of  its  franchise  never  contiibuted  a  dollar 
to  building  its  road.  The  common  stock  of  the  company  to-day  reiore- 
sents  not  a  dollar  contributed  to  its  construction.  It  is  purely  water. 
Every  mile  of  the  road  has  been  constructed  with  borrowed  money  [on  the 
grant  from  the  Government] .  The  President  of  the  comjDany  says  that 
the  Cascade  branch  will  be  built  by  the  same  means.  It  ought  not  to  be 
very  diflficult  to  raise  $25,000  per  mile  on  a  land  grant  worth  at  Govern- 
ment prices  more  than  twice  that  sum.  An  unencumbered  company  could 
raise  double  the  amount." 


"The  projjosition  to  confirm  to  the  Northern  Pacific  a  land  grant  for- 
feited July  4,  1877,  is  identical  with  making  a  new  grant.  It  is  in  conflict 
with  law  and  justice.  It  is  opposed  to  the  declarations  of  the  republican 
[and  democratic]  parties  in  National  conventions.  [For  a  blind,  as  they 
are  both  controlled  by  the  secret  brethren] .  It  is  an  outrageous  attemjit 
to  pervert  a  gift  which,  when  made,  was  [sui^iwsed  to  be]  for  the  iJublic 
good,  into  an  engine  of  oppression  and  injury  of  indefinite  duration.  It 
is  an  assault  upon  the  landed  heritage  of  the  jjeoijle  of  the  United  States, 
unwarranted  and  indefensible.  It  is  an  outrage  against  which  the  people, 
not  alone  of  Washington  Territory,  but  of  the  whole  nation  indignantly 
protest,"  [but  they  protested  in  vain,  as  the  gang  was,  and  is,  in poiver.^ 

"But  if  it  be  wrong  to  confirm  to  the  N.  P.  lauds  along  the  line  of  its 
completed  road,  not  built  within  the  time  si^eeified  in  its  charter  [and  an 
extension  of  time  on  top  of  that],  what  shall  be  said  of  the  jiropositiou,  now 
made  by  its  agents  and  lobbyists  [brethren]  to  allow  it  to  goon,  and  bv 
building  more  miles  of  road,  obtain  a  large  additional  area  of  the  piiblic 
land,  the  best,  the  most  valuable  in  the  Territory  ?  What  shall  be  said  of 
a  claim  to  earn  public  lands,  worth  not  less  on  an  average  than  $125,000 
per  mile,  by  building  railroads  in  Washington  Territory  in  1884, 1885, 1886 
and  1887  ?  This  is  the  claim  of  the  N.  P.  Co.  for  building  the  Cascade 
branch,  which  its  officers  and  organs  do  not  he-sitate  to  say  will  be  imme- 
diately remunerative." 

"  Is  it  not  monstrous  ?  Is  it  not  iusiilting  to  ask  the  people  to  jiistify 
or  advocate  such  an  outrageous  demand  ?  "  [By  voting  for  the  brethren 
in  the  gang  for  office  ?] 

"Commissioner  Sparks  says,  'the  N.  P.  road  had  not  attempted  to  be 


504  Bailroad  Grants,  etc. 


definitely  located  [West  of  the  Missouri  river] ,  until  after  the  date  by 
law,  July  4th,  1877,  for  its  comj)letion,'  and  that  there  is  no  provision  of 
law  by  which  rights  to  the  land  can  be  acquired  after  the  exj^iration  of 
that  time." 

* 

"In  Mexico,  a  few  years  ago,  a  valuable  land  grant  was  given  to  the 
Mexican  National  Railroad  Comiaauy,  on  condition  [like  our  roads]  that 
the  Hue  be  completed  within  a  certain  time.  The  time  expii-ed  a  few 
weeks  ago,  the  Hue  was  not  built,  and,  Avithout  any  ceremony  whatever, 
the  land  grant  was  declared  forfeited.  That  was  all  there  was  about  it. 
So  with  the  Mexican  Central  Eailroad.  Before  this  line  was  built  the 
Government  granted  it  certain  priA-ileges  on  condition  that  it  would  make 
no  discrimination  between  shipj^ers  or  between  towns,  and  that  its  freight 
tariffs  should  not  be  changed  without  the  Government  being  notified  in 
advance.  The  company  having  violated  both  of  these  conditions,  the 
authorities  are  coming  down  upon  it  with  a  determination  and  vigor  which 
amazes  the  stockholders,  who  are  accustomed  to  the  American  [Masonic] 
way  of  doing  things;  letting  [Masonic  gangs]  do  as  they  i^lease  with  the 
people's  ijroperty." 

* 

"It  is  not  true  that  these  lauds  have  been  opened  for  settle- 
ment by  the  [Masonic]  N.  P.  R.  Co.  It  is  not  even  true  that  lands  equal 
to  those  in  its  grant  have  been  so  opened.  On  the  contrary,  from  the  in- 
ception of  its  work  it  has/olloired  settlement.  It  is  even  now  claiming  the 
right  to  locate  lands  in  Washington  Temtory  in  lieu  of  lands  within  the 
limits  of  its  grant  in  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  because  before  its  road  was 
built  there  were  not  left  enough  unsettled  lands  to  satisfy  its  claims. 
Does  this  indicate  pioneering  ?  It  is  a  fact,  that  ahead  of  its  railroad  con- 
struction, away  ahead,  marched  the  pioneer  settler;  that  from  the  time  its 
granting  act  was  passed,  20  miles  outside  the  hmits  of  its  grant  have  been 
withdrawn  from  sale  by  the  Govei-nment,  to  recompense  it  for  those  lands 
within  said  Hmits,  occupied  by  settlers  [even  before  the  location  of  the 
railroad.]  Its  gi-eat  difficulty  to-day  in  this  temtory  is  to  find  enough 
land  unoccupied  to  cover  its  huge  claim.  Of  the  nearly  45,000,000  acres 
of  pubHc  land  in  this  territory  this  [Masonic  gang]  lays  claim  to  more  than 
one-third.  What  has  it  opened  to  settlement  by  construction  of  its  railroad 
here,  which  have  in  any  measure  comjjensated  for  the  surrender  of  so 
great  a  proportion  of  our  landed  area  ?  We  allege  that  it  has  prevented  the 
construction  of  other  railroads  [and  the  opening  to  free  navigation  of  the 
Columbia  river,  of  far  gi'eater  importance  than  all  the  railroads  in  the  terri- 
tory.^  That  but  for  the  enormous  advantage  \corrupHi/'\  given  it  by  this 
land  grant,  other  roads  would  ere  this  have  been  traversing  this  territory 
in  several  directions;  that  but  for  this  land  grant  a  railroad  would  long 
ago  have  been  built  from  Puget  Sound  across  the  Cascade  mountains; 
[two  are  now  building  without  any  Government  aid.]  That  bi;t  for  the 
land  gi'ant  a  railroad  would  be  at  once  built  from  Puget  Sound  to  the 


Advice  to  Settlers.  505 


navigable  waters  of  the  upper  Columbia;  that  but  for  this  grant  coal 
mines  and  ii'on  mines  would  be  now  oj^ened  and  in  siiccessful  production; 
that  a  large  area  of  valuable  agricultural  land  would  be  immediately  oc- 
cujjied,  that,  in  short,  the  territory  would  grow  rapidly  in  population  and 
wealth." 

* 
"Advice  to  Settlers. — We  mean  settlers  on  the  lieu  lands.  They  must 
combine  together  and  refuse  to  abandon  the  lands  they  have  settled  upon, 
if  the  [Masonic]  comjjany  aims  to  eject  them  because  of  not  paying  six 
prices  for  said  lands.  Don't  pay  such  high  prices  for,  but  hold  on  to  your 
lands,  hy  force,  if  necessary;  and  if  Congress  is  not  a  den  of  thieves,  relief 

will  come." 

*  * 
* 

"The  [masonic]  company  had  better  stop  altogether  the  sale  of  lands 
to  which  it  has  not,  and  cannot  obtain,  title,  and  so  save  itself  and  innocent 
purchasers  from  a  vast  deal  of  future  trouble.  [When  outsiders  do  this 
they  are  called/eZo/i.s  and  '  made  example  of '  by  making  them  deliver  all 
their  property  to  the  court  gang  and  sending  them  to  State's  prison,  where 
the  blackleg-fiunkey-of-the-railroad-gang-Governor  tells  them  that  '  crime 
should  be  made  hideous,'  and  'that  we  have  a  good  judiciary,'  because  it 

stands  in  with  the  gang.  ] 

*  * 
* 

' '  [Masonic]  railroads  must  have  many  extensions  of  time  in  which  to 

comply  with  the  law,  in  order  to  get  land  for  nothing.     Who  ever  heard 

of  a  settler,  a  homesteader,  or  pre-emptor  being  given  an  extension  of  time 

when  he  had  failed  to  comjily  wdth  the  law  ?     Although  he  could  give  a 

miich  better  excuse  than  railroads  ever  offer.     Sickness  or   death   in  a 

settler's  family  or  losses  by  fire  or  flood  are  no  excuse  for  an  individual 

[outsider],  but  [masonic]  corporations  [with  their  spec/rt^  privileges\   must 

have  the  land  whether  they  comisly  with  the  law  or  not.     Robbery  is  too 

mild  a  term." 

' '  In  reply  to  [blackleg]  editors  of  papers  owned  by  the  [masonic]  N. 
P.  R.  R.,  who  never  tire  of  claiming  that  if  any  portion  of  the  land  grant 
was  forfeited  that  the  road  would  be  so  crippled  that  it  coiild  not  be  com- 
pleted. We  refer  to  the  following  jjaragraph  from  a  pamphlet  published 
by  the  [masonic]  company  :" 

"TheN.  P.  gi-ant  is  twenty  times  as  large  as  the  Illinois  Central's 
[which  pays  to  the  State  a  part  of  its  income  while  the  N.  P.  doesn't  even 
pay  its  taxes] ,  and  on  the  question  of  the  comparative  intrinsic  worth  of 
two  grants,  we  give  the  opinion  of  John  Wilson,  who  organized  the  land 
department  of  the  Ilhnois  Central  road,  and  was  for  many  years  its  honored 
commissioner.  He  says,  'I  consider  the  grant  to  the  Northern  Pacific 
worth  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  per  cent,  jser  acre  moi*e  than  the  Central's. 
It  is  a  small  estimate  to  say  that  if  this  grant  is  properly  managed,  it  will 
build  the  entire  road,  connecting  Avith  the  present  terminus  of  the  grand 


506  Rmlroad  Grants,  etc. 


triiuk,  through  to  Puget  Sound,  and  head  of  navigation  on  the  Columbia 
— -fit  out  an  entire  fleet  of  sailing  vessels  and  steamers  for  the  China,  East 
India,  and  coasting  trade,  and  leave  a  surplus  that  will  roll  up  to  millions." 

' '  Their  gi-eed  is  so  great  that  not  only  do  they  claim  laud  where  they 
have  but  the  shadow  of  a  title,  but  they  claim  land  along  the  branch 
from  Portland  to  Tacoma,  even  when  the  joint  resolution  of  1869,  au- 
thorizing the  building  of  that  branch  expressly  stated  that  it  should  claim  no 
land  from  the  United  States  by  reason  of  the  building  of  that  road." 

* 
A  ''  Ter-ritorial  Piotieer"  'writes. — "I  wish  to  ask  whose  land  this  is 
that  [masonic]  officials  gave  away,  and  where  they  got  the  right  to  give  the 
peoijle's  land  away  to  a  thieving,  boxed-up  ]  masonic]  monoj^oly,  rob- 
bing American  citizens  of  their  rights,  and  driving  old  settlers  oflf  their 
land  to  the  poor  house  and  the  clam  beach,  the  tax-payers  furn- 
ishing public  land  to  give  away  to  [masonic]  railroad  thieves  to  sell 
back  again  to  the  people  at  $10  per  acre,  so  the  [linked  brethren] 
thieves  can  buy  up  a  rotten  Congress  and  to  i^ut  up  [masonic]  raih-oad 
jobs  ?  What  is  the  good  of  the  railroad  ?  They  charge  so  much  you 
can  never  ride  on  one.  They  charge  a  man  ten  cents  a  mile.  The 
[masons]  have  given  [to  their  brethren]  about  all  the  country.  There 
is  no  other  to  give  except  Alaska,  and  they  -will  give  that  away  next 
spring  as  soon  as  it  thaws  oiit."  [And  you  will  vote  for  the  secret 
brethren  for  office,  will  you  ?] 

•X-  * 

* 
"  The  Northern  Pacific  holds  [fraudulently]  2,680,000  acres  of  land  in 
Washington  Territory  as  a  gift  for  building  a  road  from  Calama  to  Ta- 
coma alone,  enough  to  build  the  road  three  times  over,  yet  the  rates  of 
trausj^ortation  between  these  two  places  is  about  all  the  produce  is  worth 
and  just  as  high  as  they  can  be  mthotit  interdicting  trade  altogether," 
[in  plain  violation  of  law,  but  they  do  it  with  impunity  because  their 
brethren  are  in  office  and  they  own  the  courts.] 

' '  It  seems  to  think  it  makes  no  difference  whether  it  completes  the 
road  in  the  time  stipiilated  in  the  charter,  or  ten  or  fifteen  years  thereafter. 

It  goes  into  our  legislature  and  so  warjss  a  bill  on  taxation  of  raikoad 
lands  that  the  com^jany  is  foi'ever  free  from  taxes  on  them.  On  taxation 
of  the  railroad  projier  under  the  'gross  earnings  law,'  all  its  [stolen] 
millions  of  dollars  worth  of  timber,  coal,  iron  mines,  shops,  bridges, 
stations,  road  bed,  rolliug  stock,  and  lands  in  a  belt  80  miles  wide,  are  ex- 
emjit. " 

' '  It  has  come  into  this  valley  after  it  had  been  settled  twenty  years,  de- 
stroyed the  legal  and  commercial  caj^ital  of  the  settlers,  in  order  to  build 
Tipon  its  ruins  another  town,  the  profits  from  which  speculation  goes 
into  the  i^ockets,  not  of  the  stockholders,  but  a  syndicate  [of  masons] 
constituting  a  wheel  within  the  system  of  that  great  clock,  whose  hands 


Advice  to  Settlers.  507 


indicate  on  the  dial  plate  the  wreck  of  private  fortune  and  the  blast- 
ing of  the  hopes  of  frontier  settlers,"  [and  so  they  are  a  secret  ring 
Avithin  our  Government,  making  of  it  a  machine  of  oppression  against 
the  full  fledged  citizen,  and  a  shield  for  their  own  crimes.] 

"It  controls  the  timber  trade,  the  elevator  business,  the  grain  trade, 
beef  trade,  and  nearly  every  avenue  of  business  is  made  to  jjay  homage 
and  revenue  to  it,  and  any  man  who  does  not  favor  and  crook  the  hinges 
of  his  knee  in  craven  obedience  is  ostracised  by  this  powerful  tyrant. 

' '  The  whole  country  is  terrorized  by  the  multipHcity  of  evils  contin- 
ually sprung  by  this  hydra-headed  [masonic]  monster." 

"The  jjeople  bear  the  burdens  of  taxation  [and  of  plunder]  and  the 
great  ['charitable  order']  receives  the  profits  of  the  people's  labor,  and 
proves  by  its  acts  that  it  has  not  for  us  the  sympathy  that  formally  ex- 
isted between  master  and  slave,  but  that  it  is  continually  Avhispering  to 
itself,   'the  people  be  d d  ! ' " 

"Its  rates  of  freight  are  so  high  that  farmers,  miners,  and  stock 
gi-owers  find  it  iirofitable  to  freight  by  wagon  150  miles  alongside  of  the 
[masonic]  railroad." 

"It  enters  conventions,  dictates  platforms  and  candidates,  and 
[secretly]  conducts  camj^aigus;  it  bribes  newsjiapers;  it  emjiloys  [ma- 
sonic] orators  to  address  the  intelligent,  and  thugs  to  crack  the  party 
whip  over  the  heads  of  the  ignorant ;  it  continually  strives  not  only  to 
make  its  own  property  very  valuable  but  to  make  that  of  its  neighbors 
worthless  ;  [owning  the  courts]  it  is  a  continual  litigant ;  it  heeds  not  the 
rights  of  others  and  legaHzes  injustice  by  controlling  judges  and  juries," 
[yet  peojile  vote  for  theii-  secret  sworn  brethren  for  office.  ] 

"It  is  a  SAvindler  ;  it  sells  lands  which  do  not  belong  to  it,  evades  the 
payment  of  taxes,  and  obtains  money  under  false  i^retenses." 

' '  The  matter  has  got  down  to  this  :  Shall  the  people  do  the  legislat- 
ing, or  shall  the  [linked  masonic]  raih'oads  do  it  ?  Shall  the  peoj^le  rule 
or  shall  the  [hnked  masonic]  railroads  rule  them  ?  We  are  bound  hand 
and  foot  in  the  [Linked  masonic]  railroad  chains.  We  should  struggle  and 
fight  till  they  are  broken." 

...."Conventions  have  been  packed  [by  the  gang] ,  meetings  have 
been  broken  uji  or  controlled,  legislatures  have  been  ca^jtured.  While 
this  has  been  going  on,  the  vast  majority  of  the  journals  of  the  Temtory — 
many  of  them  corrupt,  others  blind — have  not  only  failed  to  raise  their 
voices  in  behalf  of  popular  rights,  but  have  given  themselves  over  body 
and  s6ul  to  a  soulless  master ;  have  failed  to  keep  faith  "n-ith  the  people, 
but  have  been  ever  ready  and  wiUing  to  aid  in  any  measure  to  strengthen 
the  hold  which  the  [linked  masonic  gang]  has  already  secured  in  the 
jjolitics  of  the  Territory.  As  a  rule,  the  press  has  sacrificed  the  interests  of 
the  people  for  paltry  bribes,  or  because  of  the  insolent  threats  of  a  domineer- 
ing [linked  masonic  gang]  and  its  strikers." 


508  Railroad  Grants,  etc. 

"Every  trick  of  the  corrupt  iwlitician,  every  device  for  blinding  the 
people,  has  been  made  use  of  by  the  hirelings  of  this  [mystic]  gang.  Not 
only  have  newspapers  been  bribed  and  bullied,  but  voters  have  been  pur- 
chased and  intimidated.  A  determined  eflfort  has  been  made  to  control 
Washington  while  it  is  yet  a  Territory,  to  bind  it  hand  and  foot,  so  that 
upon  its  admission  to  the  Union  it  would  be  a  mere  pocket  burrow  [and 
so  it  is]  of  which  the  offices  would  be  doled  out  as  rewards  to  those  who 
bv  their  unscrupulousness  or  then*  activity  in  the  cause  of  their  master 
had  won  the  approbation  of  the  [masonic]  land  thieves  aud  railroad 
kings."  [Even  their  most  abject  flunkeys,  the  ex-blackleg  Governors,  are 
being  puffed  up  by  masonic  blackleg  editors  for  United  States  Senators 
of  "Washington  State.] 

"That  one  may  smUe,  and  smile  and  be  a  villain." 

"  Would'st  ihou  have  a  serpent  sting  thee  twice  ?  " 


(During  the  building  of  the  N.  P.  road,  the  masonic  officials  and  their 
friends  had  a  picnic  over  the  same,  and  their  secret  ring  brethi-en  and 
flunkeys  of  the  jjress  urged  the  people  to  receive  and  cheer  them  as  the 
more  degraded  Russian  subject  does  their  Czar.]  "The  gi'eat  moving 
menagerie  contains  336  persons,  the  estimated  expense  of  whom,  during 
the  trip,  will  be  half  a  million  dollars,  or  a  little  over  ^1,488  each.  The 
supply  of  wines  and  liquors  costing  ^23,000.  The  odd  sections  of  the 
people's  land  built  this  road,  and  we  may  expect  that  the  proceeds  of  the 
even  sections  in  the  hands  of  the  settlers  -ndll  jjay  this  half  million  of  ex- 
penses of  this  great  menagerie,  and  the  American  people  are  expected  to 
do  homage  to  the  progi-amme.     What  a  country  !     W^hat  a  people  ! 


"In  the  bituminous  coal  field  the  N.  P.  Co.  'owns'  480,000  </«'es, 
valued  at  the  low  government  price  of  $20  jjer  acre  would  amount  to 
S9, 600,000,  not  one-fourth  their  real  value,  for  the  coal.  This  belt  of  coal 
land  embraces  the  most  heavily  timbered  region  of  like  extent  in  the 
world.  Monster  fir  and  cedar  trees,  many  of  them  from  six  to  nine  feet 
in  diameter,  and  from  300  to  400  feet  in  height,  cover  the  earth  so  thickly 
that,  standing  in  the  midst,  the  range  of  \dsion  is  confined  within  a  few 
hundred  feet  on  all  sides,  as  by  a  dense  wall  of  wood.  This  estimated  at 
60,000  feetto  the  acre,  worth  seventy-five  cents  per  thousand,  that  is  $45  per 
acre,  or  $21,600,000  ;  this  added  to  the  $9, 600, 000  and  we  have  $31,200,000, 
which  is  exclusive  of  the  lignite  belt. 

This  estimate  is  for  a  strip  of  twelve  to  fifteen  miles  in  width,  red,ching 
one  hundred  miles  in  length.  It  does  not  include  their  value  for  agricul- 
tural purposes  after  the  timber  is  removed,  and  while  the  coal  is  being 
mined,  nor  as  town  sites  for  mining  centres.  It  does  not  include  the  value 
of  other  coal  fields  adjacent,  nor  iron  mines  contiguous,  nor  of  the  thous- 
ands of  acres  of  rich  bottom  lands  along  the  streams.     It  is  the  estimated 


Advice  to  Settlers.  509 


value  of  a  strip  of  land,  over  two-fifths  of  which  lies  in  this  (King)  county. 
What  is  the  value  of  its  %i'hole  claim  within  King  county  alone  ?  " 

[If  honestly  managed,  at  $20,000  per  mile,  "$31,200,000"  would  build 
over  1,500  miles  of  railroadsy«/-  the  county,  and  the  people  own  the  roads  ; 
and  so  on  all  along  the  line.  This  would  be  some  of  the  benefits  of  a  Gov- 
ernment (sujoreme  over  all  the  secret,  alien  ring  governments  within  it)  by 
the  jieople/o?-  the  peoj)le.  Now  it  is  by  the  secret  rings  for  the  secret 
rings.     By  the  masons/or  the  masons.  ] 

*  * 
* 

' '  If  the  land  and  property  of  the  raih'oads  in  Dakota  were  taxed  as 
other  property,  the  [masonic]  comjjany  would  jiay  about  a  milHon  and  a 
half  dollars  into  the  treasury.     As  it  is  it  pays  $170,000 — [sometimes]. 

At  this  time  the  company  is  in  arrears  $103,000.  The  Treasurer  le^•ied 
upon  eight  locomotives  to  compel  its  payment,  but  [of  course]  the  court 
decided  in  favor  of  the  [masons."     Who  else  will  the  cowvia protect  against 

paying  taxes  .'*] 

*  * 
* 

"The  Union  Pacific  was  built  and  equipj^ed  by  the  people  of  the 

United  States,  for  it  is  well  known  that  the  jirojectors  paid  in  only  about 

one  and  a  half  million  dollars  towards  its  construction." 

*  * 
* 

"The  original  stockholders  of  the  Northern  Pacific  never  contributed 
a  dollar  toward  building  that  road.  The  only  expenditures  made  by  those 
[masons]  among  whom  the  $100,000,000  in  stock  was  divided,  and  to  whom 
it  was  practically  delivered,  were  those  for  procuring  \inysteriously^  the 
passage  of  the  original  charter  and  land  grant  act  and  subsequent  amenda- 
tory resolutions  through  Congress."  [Seci'et  brethren  in  Congress  can 
secretly  and  safely  trade  mth  their  brethren  out  of  Congress  in  desjioil- 
ing  the  jieople's  wealth,  because  they  are  so  strongly  obHgated  and 
sworn  to  "ever  conceal  and  never  reveal"  each  others  secrets,]  and 
some  few  thousand  dollars  advanced  afterwards  by  Jay  Cooke  <fe  Co.  to 
pay  for  preliminary  examination  of  the  route  j^rior  to  the  execution  of  the 
contract  made  with  that  firm  to  sell  bonds  of  the  road  for  the  purpose  o'l 
its  constriiction.  In  all,  these  expenditures  did  not  exceed  $150,000,  in 
fact,  it  was  stipulated  in  a  written  contract  that  the  shareholders  in  the 
franchise  should  not  be  assessed  to  exceed  the  above  sum  in  the  aggregate. 

At  this  date  these  contracts  are  interesting  reading.  Much  has  been 
written  about  the  hardships,  struggles,  losses,  etc.,  of  the  original  pro- 
jectors of  the  Northern  Pacific  company.  The  facts  are  that  only  the  un- 
susi^ecting  public,  who  bought  shares  at  fictitious  values  of  men  whom 
they  cost  nothing,  have  been  victimized.  Not  a  dollar  received  from 
sales  of  stock  in  that  company  was  invested  in  its  constriiction.  The 
first  500  miles  were  constructed  between  1873  and  1879  with  the  i^roceeds 
of  the  sale  of  $30,000,000  bonds  of  the  road,  and  its  land  grant.  Up 
to  that  time,  since  the  road  was  chartered,  six  years  had  elapsed  during 


510  Bailkoad  Grants,  etc. 


"wliich  the  original  stockliolders  liad  div-itled  among  themselves  or  as- 
signed to  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  the  whole  capital  stock  of  the  company 
and  issued  to  parties  to  the  contract  a  large  portion  of  its  paid  up  shares. 
Here  are  a  few  details  of  one  of  the  most  bold-faced  frauds  and  iniquitous 
agreements  on  record.  The  franchise  of  the  N.  P.  R.  R.  was  in  18G7  the 
property  of  Smith  and  [other  brethren].  The  cost  of  lobbying  [secret 
intrigue]  the  act  of  1861  through  Congress,  and  incidental  expenses  up  to 
that  date,  amounted  to  $102,000.  In  January,  1867,  a  contract  was  made 
whereby  this  property — the  charter,  etc., — was  divided  into  twelve  shares 
of  $3,500  each.  This  contract  provided  that  subscribers  should  become 
jointly  interested  with  Smith  'in  proportion  to  the  shares,  or  parts  of 
shares,  taken  in  the  charter  or  franchise  of  the  N.  P.  R.  R.  with  all  its 
rights,  powers,  privileges  and  immunities. '  It  further  jsrovided  that  all 
parties  thereto  should  unite  to  get  aid  from  Congress  [more  secret  intrigu- 
ing, in  which  an  outsider  could  not  hope  to  succeed]  by  further  legislation, 
and  contribute  pro-rata,  according  to  the  interest  held  by  each  for  that 
purpose  [for  lobbying,  intriguing]  and  that  as  soon  as  Congress  granted 
further  aid  [sjDecial  privileges  and  exemptions  denied  to  other  men]  an  or- 
ganization should  be  effected  to  commence  construction  of  the  road,  and 
secure  the  [people's]  laud  granted  by  the  [masonic]  act.  On  July  3, 
1867,  three  years  after  the  charter  had  been  granted,  the  above  agreement 
was  amended  by  stipulating  that  the  total  amount  which  each  of  the  twelve 
shares  should  be  compelled  to  contribute,  should  not  be  over  $12,500,  in- 
cluding the  amount  already  paid  ($8,500)  making  a  total  of  $150,000,  as 
the  limit  of  the  amount  wiiich  the  owners  of  the  charter  could  be  com- 
pelled to  contribute. 

Thus  matters  remained  until  1869,  no  railroad  yet  having  been  com- 
menced. In  that  year — May  20,  1869 — an  agreement  was  made  by  the 
holders  of  the  franchise  with  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  by  which  the  shares  were 
increased  to  eighteen,  six  of  which  were  to  be  given  to  Jay  Cooke  <fe  Co. , 
and  the  capital  stock  di\'ided  as  follows  :  $100,000,000  stock,  $80,001,000 
to  be  issued  wi  full  paid  up  stock  pro  rata  among  the  eighteen  shares  as 
follows  :  $124,500  per  share  immediately,  and  $54,000  per  share  "as  often 
as  each  twenty-five  miles  of  road  is  constructed."  The  balance  of  the 
capital  stock  ($19,999,000)  to  be  delivered  to  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  in  paid  up 
[in  fraud]  stock  as  follows  :  As  often  as  said  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  shall  sell  a 
$1,000  bond,  $200  of  the  stock  shall  be  delivered. 

One  hundred  million  dollars  ($100,000,000)  of  73-10  bonds  were 
ordered  issued,  to  be  sold  by  said  Jay  Cooke  &  Co. ,  at  eighty-eight  cents 
on  the  dollar. 

Not  a  foot  of  raih-oad  had  yet  been  constructed,  although  five  years 
had  passed  since  the  charter  was  granted,  and  application  had  twice  been 
made  to  Congress  for  extension  of  the  time  when  it  should  be  completed. 

On  the  first  of  Jaauary,  1870,  the  foregoing  contract  was  modified. 
During  the  interval  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  had  investigated  the  route,  pros- 


Advice  to  Seitlers.  511 


pects.  etc. ,  of  the  isroposed  railroad,  and  the  change  was  made  in  compli- 
ance with  the  demands  of  that  company.  The  eighteen  shares  were  in- 
creased to  twenty-four,  of  which  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  were  to  have  twelve. 
A  company  was  organized/brp »?•c7^as^■;^^ /a/ifZs,  to wns/tes,  etc.,  [so  grasping 
are  masons  as  well  as  clanish]  the  stock  to  be  divided  in  the  same  propor- 
tion ;  that  is,  the  original  twelve  interests  to  have  one-half,  and  [brother] 
Cooke  &  Co.  the  other  half.  The  stock  was  then  re-appropriated  as  fol- 
lows :  $80,001,000  prorata  among  the  twenty-four  shares  ^' full  paid  tip 
stock,"  [with  their  chins]  $93,400  per  share  to  be  dehvered  immediately, 
and  $40,500  on  each  of  said  twenty-four  shares  as  often  as  twenty-five 
miles  of  road  are  completed  ;  the  balance  of  the  capital  stock,  $19,999,000 
to  be  given  to  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  as  provided  in  the  previous  agreement. 

Under  this  agTeement  Cooke  &  Co.  sold  $30,000,000  of  the  bonds  of 
the  N.  P.  R.  comiDany,  out  of  the  proceeds  of  which  the  cost  of  con- 
structing all  the  railroad  built  prior  to  the  failure  of  Cooke  &  Co.,  in  1873, 
were  paid.  Not  another  mile  of  road  was  built  until  money  was  again 
raised  by  sale  of  bonds.  The  only  equivalent  given  for  every  share  of 
stock  divided  up  prior  to  that  time  was  the  cost  of  procui'ing  the  franchise 
[secret  intriguing]  and  the  services  rendered  by  Cooke  &  Co.  in  selHng 
bonds. 

When  the  N.  P.  R.  Co.  was  reorganized,  after  being  bought  in  by  the 
bondholders,  the  holders  of  this  "full  paid  up  stock"  were  given  "com- 
mon" stock  of  the  newly  organized  company,  and  to  the  bondholders  and 
others  having  secured  claims  were  assigned  "preferred "  stock.  Thus  the 
common  stock  of  the  N.  P.  R.  Co.  represents  a  total  benefit  to  that  cor- 
poration, a  total  contribution  to  the  cost  of  the  great  overland  railroad,  of 
less  than  $150,000.  The  result  is  that  the  people  along  the  line  are  to  be 
taxed  indefinitely  to  pay  dividends,  upon  what  ?  "Under  the  contract  as  given 
above  there  were  issued,  or  the  holders  of  shares  in  the  original  franchise 
were  entitled  to  receive  aboiit  $23,000,000  in  full  paid  up  stock  of  the  N. 
P.  R.  Co.,  and  upon  this  $23,000,000,  or  its  equivalent;  it  is  expected 
to  pay  dividends  [besides  the  immense  emj)ire  of  land]  WTung  from  the 
pubhc  by  extortionate  freight  and  passenger  charges." 


"A  long  railroad  is  mapped  out,  and  the  ['  charitable  ']  men  who  hold 
the  franchise  issue  first  mortgage  bonds  for  the  entire  amount  of  the  cost, 
including  market  price  of  land  grants  at  Washington ;  [could  oiitsiders 
get  land  grants  without  employing  a  masonic  lobby  to  secretly  and  cor- 
ruptly intrigue  with  their  mystic  brethren  ?  Sa^/,  could  they?]  Profits  of 
construction  company  [a  ring  within  the  ling]  and  loss  upon  bonds  sold 
at  a  discount,  [because  of  the  fraudulent  business]  holding  in  hand  for  pri- 
vate use  some  preposterous  amount  of  stock,  no  matter  what,  representing,  of 
course,  nothing  but  the  cost  of  the  printing  and  the  knavery  of  holders. 
The  road  is  declared  able  to  pay  immediate  di\'idends  on  the  whole 
[swindle].     The  stock  is  boomed.     In  some  instances  a  dividend  or  two 


612  Eailroad  Grants,  etc. 


have  even  been  paid  out  of  proceeds  of  bonds  sold.  Speculation  sets  in, 
and  [fools]  hasten  to  buy  the  stock  at  any  price.  Even  exi^erienced  busi- 
ness men,  who  Avould  ridicule  a  purchase  of  a  given  stock  at  par,  will  con- 
sider the  same  stock  increased  to  ten  times  the  amount  of  its  face  value  as 
cheap  at  twenty.  Of  tliis  the  ['  charitable  ']  sharjiers  are  well  aware,  and 
they  are  careful  to  Avater  to  the  taste  of  purchasers.  Indeed,  as  the  whole 
thing  is  fictitious  [hke  conduct  in  others  done  on  a  small  scale  is  called 
counterfeiting,  and  a  crime  for  which  they  are  languishing  in  prison] ,  and 
merely  a  matter  of  paj^er  and  ink,  it  is  quite  immaterial  to  them  whether 
they  print  '100  shares '  on  a  certificate  of  stock  and  sell  it  at  ten,  or  print 
*  ten  shares '  and  sell  them  at  par. 

*  * 

* 

"  Our  new  countries,  where  the  virgin  wheat  lands  he,  that  we  depend 
on  for  food,  and  expected  to  control  the  market  of  the  world  by,  are 
gridiroued  with  railroads  built,  and  dishonestly  built,  Arith  money  ob- 
tained by  selling  bonds.  Not  a  cent  Avas  put  into  the  stock.  From  the 
Canadian  Pacific  southAA'ard  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  east  and  west  hues, 
with  a  single  exception,  are  roads  built  for  the  sole  purpose  of  jjlunder- 
ing  the  people.  Their  stock  represents  nothing.  .  But  by  the  most  out- 
rageous laAVS  ever  submitted  to  by  an  intelHgent  peoi3le,  the  ['  veiy 
worthy  grand  masters ']  of  those  roads  A\ill  be  allowed  (have  been  al- 
lowed in  some  cases)  to  Aviing  out  of  the  jjeople  sufficient  money  to 
jjay  a  dividend  on  stock  that  has  no  more  actual  A^alue  than  circus 
posters.  Tax  collectors  [for  the  gangs]  sit  in  every  freight  office  through- 
out our  land,  who  gather  the  tribute  paid  to  the  [worthy  grand  '  char- 
itable' {?)]  dignitaries  of  transportation,  who  were  created  by  the  [secret 
intrigue  of  spurious,  '  mysterious '  masonry] . 

"  There  are  hundreds  of  milHons  of  dollars  of  railroad  stock,  mort- 
gages on  the  industry  of  the  peojile,  on  Avhich  dividends  are  being  paid 
that  represent  nothing  but  the  effrontery  [rather  the  secret  intrigue  and 
jsrostitution  of  the  governments  and  courts]  of  [masonic]  raih'oad  directors. 

One  of  the  fundamental  laws  of  our  system  of  government  is  that  the 
jjeople  shall  not  be  taxed  A\'ithout  their  consent.  This  law  is  rigidly  ad- 
hered to  in  all  matters  of  State,  county,  town  and  school  district  taxation. 
A  bond  that  has  the  taint  of  irregularity  about  it  is  worthless.  The  jjeople 
have  never  hesitated  to  repudiate  an  illegal  obhgation,  but  they  have 
tamely  submitted  to  the  [masonic]  outrage  of  alloAving  the  [midnight 
brethren]  to  issue  hundreds  of  milHons  of  dollars  of  railroad  stock  that 
rej^resents  nothing  but  the  cost  of  j^rinting,  and  they  have  jsaid  diAddends 
on  this  [masonic]  stock.  Annually  millions  of  dollars  are  collected  from 
the  [half-housed,  half-fed,  and  three-qiiarter-mortgaged]  people  to  pay 
these  charges  [of  the  government  within  our  Government]  that  are  a  a^o- 
lation  of  the  natural  rights  of  mankind.  If  the  peojile  murmur  and 
threaten  unfavorable  [but  honest]  legislation,  theu'  [mis]  representatives 
[linked  masons]    are  pui'chased  with  the  money  they  haA'e  j^aid  to  the 


Advice  to  Settleks.  513 


[gangs,  which  can  safely  be  done  when  they  are  so  strongly  obhgated  and 

sworn  to  '  ever  conceal  and  never  reveal '  each  others  secrets] ,     So  the 

people  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  relief,  [as  they  vote  for  masons  for 

office].      State  rejaresentatives,    Congressmen,  Senators,   Judges,  all  are 

controlled,  purchased  with  money  that  has  been  drawn  from  the  \blinded\ 

people  tmder  the  cover  of  unjust  [andjlawed]  laws. " 

*  * 

* 

[Here  follows  an  example  of  the  effo7Hs  and  expression  of  the  people  of 
the  Northwest  as  to  the  foregoing  subject.] 

''Resolved,  By  the  people  of  Whitman  county,  that  the  course  the  N. 
P.  company  is  pursuing  is  one  that  is  detrimental  to  every  interest  of  the 
country,  and  inflicting  hardships  unknown  in  the  history  of  our  country, 
and  justly  causing  the  jieople  all  over  the  Ten-itory  to  organize  for  the 
better  protection  of  their  rights  against  this  grasping  [masonic]  monopoly 
which  has  laid  claim  to  a  lai'ge  tract  of  country  without  showing  where 
they  had  lost  any  land,  or  without  respecting  the  claims  of  settlers  made 
prior  to  their  selections,  or  without  any  title  whatever  derived  from  Gov- 
ernment, [the  grant  having  lajjsed]  oflfering  these  lands  for  sale  at  a  jDiice 
beyond  the  reach  of  those  who  are  justly  entitled  to  them,  and  offering 
simijly  contracts,  which,  in  themselves,  are  but  a  system  of  robbery,  bind- 
ing the  i^urchaser  to  make  annual  improvements,  and  after  jjayiug  a  certain 
amount  down,  the  balance  to  be  jjaid  at  stipulated  times,  and  if  any  por- 
tion remains  unpaid  at  the  specified  time  they  reserve  to  themselves  the 
right  to  enter  and  take  possession  without  any  legal  action  whatever,  thus 
bai'ring  the  settler  from  that  right  which  every  citizen  is  entitled  to.  They 
also  reserve  the  right  to  enter  and  take  possession  of  a  strijD,  400  feet  in 
width,  whenever  they  may  want  it  for  railroad  j9M?790ses,  binding  the  pur- 
chaser and  his  heirs  forever  to  build  and  maintain  a  good  and  substantial 
fence  on  each  side  of  said  strij^,  also  reseiwing  the  right  of  sj^rings  Avher- 
ever  they  may  be  found,  if  necessary,  for  raih-oad  j^urjjoses  ;  also  all  mm- 
eral  and  coal  that  may  be  found  thereon,  thus  leaving  the  piirchaser  at  all 
times  in  their  power.  Their  discrimination  and  extortionate  freights  are 
such  that  they  are  crippling  every  industry  and  robbing  the  people  of  th 
interior,  who  are  laboriously  struggHng  to  build  homes  for  themselves  au,i 
famihes,  of  all  their  hard  earnings,  lea"sdng  them  but  Httle  better  than 
slaves,  toiling  from  early  morn  till  late  at  eve,  that  these  grasping  [linked 
masons]  may  Hve  in  palaces  and  roll  in  wealth  and  grandeur,  while  the 
people  live  in  poverty  and  groan  under  the  burden.     Be  it  further 

' '  Resolved,  That  we  deei^ly  dei^lore  the  fact  that  we  are  under  the 
desjDotic  power  of  a  ['  charitable  '  gang]  and  our  only  hope  of  jjrotection 
is  from  the  halls  of  legislation,  and  that  we  do  earnestly  entreat  Congress 
to  regulate  the  inter-State  traffic  so  as  to  jirotect  the  i>eoi3le  from  such 
gigantic  robbery,  and  also  to  take  such  action  in  regard  to  the  land  grant 
as  will  give  to  them  their  justly  earned  titles,  and  the  balance  to  be  held 
and  sold  only  at  Government  price,  and  we  earnestly  beseech  Congress  to 
33 


514  Railroad  Grants,  etc. 


make  such  ai^propriations  mul  iasuchu  vutuuer  [tliat  is,  so  the  gang  don't 
steal  it  about  all,  as  is  usually  done]  as  "will  speedily  open  the  Columbia 
river,  which  is  the  great  highway  of  transportation,  that  the  land  grants 
which  the  [masonic]  railroad  company  ai'e  now  seeking  to  hold  be  declared 
forfeited,  and  the  titles  to  innocent  i:)urchasers  be  confii-med,  the  rest  sold 
at  Government  price  and  the  money  expended  in  si^eedily  comi^leting  the 
opening  of  the  Columbia  river,  Avliich  alone  is  in  the  interest  of  the 
people. " 

* 

"Snake  Biver  Mass  Meeting." — Of  the  people  of  Snake  river,  Tu- 
kannon  and  Pataha  sections.     1884. 

"  ^Mlere(^s,  In  1864,  by  act  of  Congress,  lands  were  granted  to  the  N. 
P.  R.  R.  Co. ,  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Lake  Suiserior 
to  Puget  Sound,  and 

^^^lerea!^,  The  original  grant  was  large  and  valuable  enough  to  con- 
struct the  entire  road  Avithout  other  help  within  the  time  specified  in  the 
granting  act,  and  ten  years  have  elapsed  since  that  time  expired,  and 

^^^lereas,  The  [masonic]  comjiauy  defeiTcd  building  the  road  until  the 
country  through  which  it  passed  was  sufficiently  developed  to  make  said 
road  a  source  of  profit  without  the  aid  of  the  land,  and  said  land  being 
settled  and  improved  without  the  aid  and  advantage  of  the  railroad  which 
should  have  been  constructed  for  the  purjjose  of  developing  the  country, 
and 

Whereas,  Parties  interested  in  the  N.  P.  E.  R.  Co.  have  influenced 
[their  brethren]  the  boards  of  trade  of  Walla  Walla  and  Portland  to  ex- 
press sentiments  contrary  to  those  really  existing,  for  the  purpose  of  influ- 
encing legislation,  therefore 

Resolved,  first,  That  we  demand  that  all  land  not  actually  earned  by 
the  construction  of  the  road  within  the  time  specified  in  the  gi'anting  act, 
be  forfeited  and  restored  to  the  pubhc  domain. 

Resolved,  second,  That  the  N.  P.  R.  R.  Co.  is  not  justly  entitled  to  an 
acre  of  land  in  this  Territory. 

Resolved,  third,  That  the  land  in  this  Territory  claimed  by  the  N.  P. 
R.  R.  Co.  justly  belongs  to  the  settlers  who  had  improved  and  developed 
this  country,  and  as  citizens  of  the  United  States  should  obtain  title  at 
government's  requirements. 

Resolved,  foiu-th.  That  all  United  States  Senators  and  Representatives 
in  and  Delegates  to  Congress  be  and  are  hereby  respectfully  requested  to 
prociire  the  forfeiture  of  the  lands  unearned. " 

[But  the  iJeoi^le  had  no  more  influence,  by  petition,  for  right  and  jus- 
tice at  Washington,  than  they  had  with  blackleg-masonic-Governors  at 
Olympia,  Washington  Territory.] 


I 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

As  TO  THE  MAETIAIj  LAW  TKOUBLE  IN  PROTECTING  MASONIC  CHINAMEN  AND 
MASONIC  CRIMINALS  ON  PUGET  SoUND  WHEN  AMERICAN  CITIZENS  WERE 
PILLAGED,    MURDERED,    AND   DRIVEN   OUT   WITH    NO   TROOPS   OR   MARTIAL 

LAW  TO  PROTECT  THEM. — Coudensecl  from  the  press  with  explaua- 
tions,  etc. — (How  to  read  newspapers  "between  the  lines,"  or  what 
belongs  between  the  lines. ) 


Consistency." 


H: 


.  ERE  is  a  bit  of  modeiTi  local  history  ;  the  narrative  is  given  as  a 
preamble  to  the  mention  of  a  jsoint  appearing  in  a  Seattle  jjaper,  and 
which  relates  to  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order  against  the  violence  of 
mob  rule. 

A  man  residing  in  Seattle,  while  returning  from  his  residence  to  his 
store,  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  was  confronted  by  two  robbers  who, 
it  is  supposed,  ordered  him  to  throw  up  his  hands.  It  is  further  sup- 
posed that  instead  of  obeying  their  order  he  drew  a  pistol  and  attempted 
to  defend  himself,  Avhen  they  shot  him  doAvn.  Never  were  villains  more 
hunted.  Late  in  the  night  two  unknown  men  were  found  apparently 
sleeping  under  a  lot  of  hay  in  a  barn  [a  common  thing]  and  taken  to 
jail.  That  night  a  vigilance  committee  was  formed,  embracing  many  of 
the  leading  citizens,  and  so  powei'ful  in  all  respects  that  the  gi'eat  arm 
of  the  law  was  paralyzed,  and  here  was  but  one  man  in  the  community 
who  had  the  courage  to  even  suggest  opposition  to  this  young  giant  of 
mob  rule,  and  that  was  the  Chief  Justice,  Roger  S.  Green.  He  learned 
that  two  strange  men  had  been  arrested  ;  he  was  told  of  the  speedy  or- 
ganization of  that  which  to  him  was  the  most  fearful  of  all  things — a 
vigilance  committee.  He  went  to  the  leading  men  of  the  city  and 
talked  his  remonstrance  to  them,  but  he  might  as  well  have  invoked 
the  hidden  powers  of  the  air  or  implored  the  intervention  of  the  Avaves. 
He  sought  and  obtained  invitation  to  be  present  and  sit  with  the  com- 
mitting magistrate  at  the  preHminary  hearing  which  was  to  be  had  and 
Avhich  took  place  on  the  day  following  the  murder.  The  vigilance  com- 
mittee, learning  of  this,  prepared  to  anticipate  any  moA'ement  that  the 
chief  justice  might  make  to  interfere  with  the  execution  of  their  purpose. 
The  hearing  Avas  heard  in  a  large  hall  which  Avas  crowded  to  its  utmost 
capacity  by  members  of  the  vigilance  committee  delegated  to  do  the 
stern  Avork  in  hand  [against  the  outside-of-the-gang  jji-isouersj.  The 
prisoners  were  brought  into  court,  and  the  chief  justice  sat  at  the  side 
of  the  examining  magistrate.  A  tall,  powerful  [mason]  Avith  ominous 
mien,  stood  Uke  a  sentinel  behind  the  chair  on  Avhich  Judge  Green  was 
sitting.  The  hearing  was  concluded,  the  decision  being  that  the  prison- 
ers be  held  for  trial.     The  latter,  in    charge  of   policemen,  arose    from 

(515) 


ol6  A  Vigilance  Commiitee. 

their  seats  and  were  immediately  taken  possession  of  by  the  ^'igilance 
committee.  Judge  Green  made  a  motion  as  though  to  start  to  his  feet 
and  interpose.  The  sentry  at  his  back  drew  forth  from  his  coat  a 
white  bed-sheet,  and,  unfolding  it,  enveloped  the  head  and  body  of  the 
Judge  to  his  knees,  and  then  grasjied  him  about  the  waist  Avith  his  arms. 
Here  Avas  justice  blinded  A\ith  a  \'engeance,  struggling  in  Aain  to  be  free 
against  the  unyielding  firmness  of  those  poAverful  arms.  Some  one  cried 
out,  'Don't  hurt  his  Honor,'  and  the  reply  of  the  strong  man  A\-as,  '  I  don't 
Avant  to  hurt  him,  but  I  am  bound  to  hold  him.'  The  great  crowd  moA'ed 
out  of  the  hall  and  repaired  to  the  most  pubHc  place  in  the  city.  There  a 
scanthng  had  been  jjlaced  high  aboA-e  the  paAement  with  ends  resting  in 
the  forks  of  the  shade  trees,  and  on  this  scanthng  Judge  Lynch  held  his 
high  carnival.  A  detachment  of  the  committee  Avent  to  the  jail  and  took 
out  a  third  A-ictim  avIio  Avas  under  trial  for  shooting  a  ijohcemau  [and  who, 
it  transjiired,  was  absent  from  the  city  at  the  time]  and  these  three  AA-ere 
suspended  side  by  side  from  the  scantling. 

When  the  danger  of  Judge  Green's  interference  seemed  to  have  passed 
away  his  captor  released  him,  and  the  captive  elbowed  his  Avay  Avith  almost 
inci'edible  si:)eed  through  the  dense  mass  of  peojile  who  filled  the  street 
and  surrounded  the  gallows,  and  with  his  penknife  iindertook  to  cut  the 
ropes  and  rescue  the  victims  of  the  mob.  He  was  struck  over  the  head 
Avith  a  cane  by  a  prominent  [masonic]  citizen,  and  another  prominent  citi- 
zen deterred  him  from  jiroceeding  further  by  the  mild  persuasiA'e  of  a  re- 
volver at  his  head.  So  his  Honor  [the  only  anti-Mason  Judge  in  the  terri- 
tory], ojjen  Uke  every  j^oor  human  being  to  couA-iction  by  argument  such 
as  that,  hied  himself  in  soitow  away,  Avhile  the  black  crime  of  treason  and 
murder  triumi:)hed  over  justice  and  law,  and  an  ineffaceable  stain  of  infamy 
Avas  put  upon  that  community. 

We  will  noAV  be  able  to  understand  the  recent  remarks  of  a  Seattle 
man,  who  makes  a  long  argument  in  favor  of  peace  and  obedience  to  law, 
earnestly  dej^recates  Adolence  and  mob  rule  [against  masons]  and  suggests 
that  the  scanthng  ought  to  be  a  jjerpetual  reminder  that  Seattle  is  an  un- 
safe place  for  laAv  breakers.      [If  they  be  outside  of  the  gang.  ] 

Oh,  consistency,  thou  art  a  jewel ! '' 

* 

"For  some  weeks  i^ast  an  objectionable  class  of  j^ersons  has  been 
flocking  into  Seattle."  [They  hved  by  their  Avits — gambling,  stealing,  etc., 
and  those  of  them  Avho  were  outside  of  the  gang  Avere  therefore  not  toler- 
ated. There  were  many,  howcA'er,  whose  only  crime  Avas  their  porertij, 
haA'ing  ah'eady  been  shorn,  so  the  gang  had  no  further  use  for  them  ;  in- 
deed, they  were  now  in  their  Avay.  So  they  were  falsely  accused,  and  then 
driven  out  to  make  room  for  more  game.] 

"  The  Chief  of  Police  and  his  httle  corps  of  aids  have  done  all  they 
could  to  keep  this  class  Avithin  bounds,  and  get  rid  of  them  as  rapidly  as 
possible.      When  arrested,  they  always  had  money  to  fee  some  shyster 


uNIVERS; 
A  Vigilance  Committee.  517 


[masonic]  lawyer,  who  would  help  them  out  and  post  them  how  to  evade 
the  law  in  future  [hke  members  of  the  gang,  but  with  them  it  is  all  right. 
And  here  is  a  samjjle  of  the  "  legal  fraternity  "  that  the  Governor  would 
foster  with  the  people's  money.  ] 

Last  night,  when  one  of  the  persons,  who  had  been  notified  to  leave, 
openly  j^ubUshed  a  card  in  an  evening  jJaiier,  saying,  ' '  I  take  this  means 
of  stating  that  I  will  not  leave  Seattle  merely  to  suit  the  pleasure  of  a  cer- 
tain individual,"  [who  had  perhaps  robbed  him]  forbearance  ceased  to  be 
a  virtue.  [Indeed  !]  The  Chief  of  Pohce  apjjointed  twenty  specials  for  a 
week,  and  the  Committee  of  Safety  also  came  together  [in  the  dark]  and 
resolved  to  sustain  the  Chief  of  Police  in  whatever  he  undertook.  The 
committee  consists  of  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  [masonic  lawless]  men, 
and  who  will  carry  out  to  the  letter  anything  they  [as  secret  consjjirators 
against  the  Government]  undertake.  It  was  resolved,  before  harsher  means 
were  adopted,  to  serve  a  notice  upon  all  suspicious  or  objectionable  charac- 
ters [except  masons,  etc.]  to  leave  town  on  or  before  this  evening,  with  a 
caution  not  to  return.  In  case  all  persons  receiving  this  notice  comi^ly,  no 
harsher  measure  will  be  used  ;  but  anyone  failing  to  comply  does  so  at  liis 
peril." 

"It  has  been  rumored  that  a  brother  of  Payne,  who  was  hung  by  the 
committee  [and  who,  it  is  believed,  was  innocent]  is  here,  and  has  been 
making  threats  against  the  city  and  its  [masonic]  people.  To  him  we  say, 
'  Leave  this  place  as  soon  as  possible,  for  if  you  attempt  to  avenge  the 
hanging  [murder]  of  your  brother,  the  same  rope  that  launched  him  into 
eternity  is  ready  to  do  the  same  for  you,  and  never  let  that  fact  escape 
your  memory  for  one  moment." 

"The  Chief  of  Police,  with  ten  deputy  city  marshals,  took  a  walk 
through  the  streets  last  night,  and  notified  as  many  of  the  above  men- 
tioned characters  as  they  could  find  to  quit  the  town  without  delay.  The 
Chief  has  a  list  of  those  whose  ijresence  is  not  desired  longer  by  this  com- 
munity, and  before  noon  to-day  they  will  all  receive  notice  to  leave,  and 
well  will  it  be  for  those  who  stand  not  upon  the  order  of  their  going,  but 
goat  once."  [Many  of  these  had  been  induced  to  immigrate  here  by 
flaming  immigration  jjamphlets  of  the  gang,  and  were  now  fleeced  and 
thus  driven  out,  with  no  Governor  or  troops  or  martial  law  to  protect 
them  !] 

* 

"  A  letter  from  Portland  informs  us  that  it  Avas  thought  over  there 
that  our  people  were  ashamed  of  their  conduct  last  Thursday  night,  and 
that  the  news  was  accordingly  supj^ressed.  Supjiress  it !  We  were  i^roud 
of  the  town  and  its  brave  and  prompt  citizens  [a  vigilance  committee]. 
Business  was  suspended  in  a  moment,  and  every  man  stepped  out  pre- 
pared to  do  or  die  to  save  his  property  and  his  neighbor's.  [But  for  out- 
siders to  do  this  against  the  gang,  is  held  by  the  courts  and  Governors  to 
be  a  heinous  crime.] 


51S  A  Vigilance  Committee. 

The  villains  quailed  in  a  moment,  and  slunk  out  of  sight  [they  not 
hu^^ug  a  secret  organization  and  prostituted  courts  to  protect  them]  while 
the  committee  of  safety  took  jjossession  of  the  town. 

The  acts  of  the  18th  of  January  were  by  no  means  taken  with  so  in- 
telligent and  determined  a  jjurpose.  They  worked  all  night  and  they 
hustled  oflf  dozens  of  the  worst  characters  in  town  [that  were  outside  of 
the  gang]  before  breakfast.  Suppress  the  rei)oi-ts  !  It  was  the  general 
w  ish  that  they  be  spread  all  over  the  country,  that  blacklegs  [outside  of 
the  gang]  might  be  confirmed  in  the  knowledge  that  Seattle  is  no  place 
for  them." 


"The  scantling  used  in  the  hanging  of  thi-ee  bad  men  [outside  of  the 
gang]  last  January  is  still  in  place,  ready  for  use,  and  if  cause  is  given 
other  men  will  dangle  under  it  on  short  notice.  Let  blacklegs  [outside  of 
the  gang]  take  warning." 

[It  Avas  and  is  the  general  custom  of  the  towns  of  the  country  to  thus 
drive  oiit  "objectionable"  citizens,  against  whom  there  is  no  proof  of 
crime,  (and  who  are  frequently  only  fleeced  victims  of  the  gang)  and  who 
are  not  joined  to  secret  brotherhoods,  thus  haA^iug  no  influence  at  coui't. 

And  Chief  Justice  Green  in  an  address  to  a  grand  jury  said  this:] 

"There  are  among  us,  and  elsewhere  tbroughout  the  United  States,  a 
variety  of  societies  and  combinations  of  i^ersons.  But  as  persons  may 
combine  for  a  lawfid,  so  they  may — and  unhapi^ily  do — for  unlawful  pur- 
poses. A  combination  to  accomplish  an  unlawful  purjjose,  or  a  lawful 
purpose  by  iinlawful  means,  is  called  a  consjjiracy,  and  if  it  proceeds  a 
single  step  in  furtherance  of  its  end,  it  desei'ves  to  be  at  once  opposed  ener- 
getically hy  all  irJio  love  the  law  and  desire  jjeace. 

The  combination  may  take  the  form  of  a  firmly  compacted  and  care- 
fully ordered  organization,  or  it  may  have  the  looser  coherence  of  a  com- 
mittee, or  a  mere  assemblage.  It  matters  not  what  form  it  may  take ;  if 
the  persons  who  compose  it  are  combined  for  a  common  and  unlawful 
l)uriiose,  and  are  acting  in  pursuance  of  that  piirpose,  there  is  a  conspiracy, 
indictable  and  punishable. 

Government  is  for  all  men  indiscriminalely.  A  free  government  is  no 
resjjector  of  persons.  It  cannot  give  to  one  class  more  rights  than  to 
others  without  abridging  the  rights  of  those  others. 

It  cannot  allow  one  class  to  take  to  itself  more  rights  than  other  classes 
withoiit  allowing  tliat  class  to  oppress  those  others.  It  cannot  allow  one  class 
to  define  what  rights  another  class  shall  have,  wdthout  deserting  its  govern- 
mental trust  and  delivering  over  to  tlie  latter  class  [or  brotherhood]  to  irre- 
dressible  tyranny. 

1  A  citize7i  cannot  divide  his  allegiance  and  give  it  partly  to  his  government 
and  partly  to  some  society,  or  league,  or  cominittee,  whose  aims  are  in  any 
particidar  hostile  to  or  at  variance  with  the  authority  of  the  government. 

2^or  can  he  be  acting  the  part  of  a  good  citizen,  if  he  is  endeavoring 


A  ViG  [LANCE  Committee.  519 

by  combination  and  force  to  accomiilish  what  the  commonwealth  Avill  not 
lend  the  power  of  its  arm  to  him  to  do. 

Still  less  can  he  be  a  good  citizen,  if  by  like  means  he  is  trying  to  do 
what  the  government  is  j^ledged  to  oppose. 

Such  conduct  on  his  part  carried  into  overt  act  of  armed  violence  of 
any  kind,  is  more  than  conspii-acy,  it  is  insurrection  and  treason. 

To  attempt  to  dejirive  a  man  of  his  '  life '  by  force  or  fright,  [or  fraud] 
is  manifestly  an  unlawful  act. 

Quite  as  manifestly  unlawful  is  it,  to  try  by  such  means  to  take  away 
his  'Hberty.' 

And  what  shall  I  say  of  an  attempt  against  his  'jjursuit  of  happiness?' 

Is  it  not  equally  unlawful  to  restrain  him,  by  such  means,  in  that  pur- 
suit ?  Clearly  it  is.  Very  essential  to  the  happiness  of  a  human  being  is 
the  liberty  to  see  and  sjjeak  to  and  deal  with  his  fellow-men,  to  employ 
and  be  employed,  to  give  and  receive  mutual  attention  and  kindnesses, 
and  to  form  and  cultivate  the  ties  of  friendshii^  and  affection. 

Any  combination  to  deny  to  any  human  being  these  sources  of  happi- 
ness, or  any  of  them,  is  unlawful. 

^Tio  the  jjerson  or  jjersons  may  be,  whose  hfe,  liberty  or  pursuit  of 
hapi^iness  is  thus  interfered  with,  matters  not. 

He  may  be  a  laboring  man  or  he  may  be  an  idler;  he  may  be  rich  or 
he  may  be  poor.     It  makes  no  difference. 

There  [is  supposed  to  be]  one  law  for  all,  and  that  which  is  unlawful 
as  against  one,  is  unlawful  as  against  any. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  lawlessness  let  alone,  is  an  encroaching  horror. " 

[Such  was  the  customoi  "lawlessness,"  "insurrection"  and  "treason  " 
against  white  citizens  outside  of  the  gang,  because  they  were  "objection- 
able "  to  another  class,  many  of  whom  Avere  gilded  wholesale  robbers  and 
thieves  and  a  far  greater  curse  to  good  people  and  homes,  than  those  they 
would  lynch  or  drive  away. 

Yet  their  victims  had  no  Governor,  troops  or  courts  to  protect  them, 
or  press  to  howl  the  "lawless  traitors"  down. 

The  Chinese  were  also  objectionable  to  the  people.  They  were  really 
a  blistering  curse  against  the  prosperity  and  dignity  of  the  common  i:)eople. 

John  Brown  started  the  fight  and  advanced  against  slavery.  He  was 
howled  down,  stigmatized  and  hung  for  it.  Others  took  uji  his  fight,  and 
with  others  to  do  the  fighting,  happened  to  succeed  and  were  glorified. 

Dennis  Kerney  started  the  agitation  against  the  Chinese  and  advanced 
the  cause.  He  was  howled  down,  stigmatized  and  imprisoned  for  it  by  the 
Masons,  who  were  against  him  and  his  cause.  But  the  people  were  with 
him  at  heart  and  applied  their  ballots  to  the  cause. 

Seeing  this,  Masons  jjut  on  Kerney 's  old  shoes,  sung  Kerney 's  war 
songs  to  the  biggest  crowd,  and  rode  into  office. 

Where  they  betrayed  and  tricked  the  jjeople  with  flawed  laws  and 


520  A  Vigilance  Committee. 

prostitiated  courts  to  jirotect  their  brethi'eu,    instead  of  to  remove  the 
Chinese  curse,  as  they  were  pledged  and  sworn  to  do.  ] 

*  * 

"Dong  Tinrj  Chung,  the  headmaster  of  the  Chinese  Free  Masons  and 
chief  of  the  highbinders  of  British  Columbia  "  says  the  Victoria  Colonist,  "was 
buried  on  the  11th,  inst.,  with  all  the  ceremonies  due  his  rank,  from  the 

Masonic  hall." 

*  * 

"It  seems  strange  that  the  law  makers  are  unable  to  frame  a  law 
which  will  eflfectually  exclude  the  Chinese.  Each  bill  that  has  been  jiassed 
by  Congress  with  this  end  in  view,  has  proved  to  be  miserably  defective. 
No  sooner  has  Congress  adjourned  than  the  Chinese  and  his  [Masonic] 
American  friends  '  discover '  innumerable  rents  in  the  law,  through  ay  Inch 
the  unwelcome  immigrant  can  enter  the  country  almost  without  molesta- 
tion. The  last  anti-Chinese  law  was  thoiight  [by  oiatsiders]  to  be  almost 
perfect,  but  time  has  shown  that  it  is  little,  if  any,  better  than  the  futile 
enactment  which  preceded  it. 

If  a  more  efiective  law  is  not  framed  before  long,  the  people  will  be- 
lieve that  the  Senators  and  Representatives  are  fooling  them,  and  that  the 
laws  are  passed  with  the  intention  rather  of  helping  the  Chinese  in,  than 
keeping  them  out." 

[The  consequence  of  which  was  that:]  "There  are  plenty  of  applica- 
tions to  labor  at  $15  per  month  for  the  next  six  months.  No  excuse  now 
for  hiring  Chinamen  because  they  are  cheap." 

[And  cases  like  the  following:] 

"The  Sixth  Victim. 

Death  of  Mr.  Mineer,  husband  of  the  woman  who  burned  herself  and  children. 

Extra-ordinary  sad  case  of  poverty. 

Olympia,  Dec.  19th,  1885.  The  recent  sad  event  which  occurred  near 
this  jilace  [right  under  the  Governor's  nose],  by  which  a  mother  and  her 
four  children  were  hurried  into  eternity,  was  rendered  still  more  sad  when 
it  was  learned  that  the  husband,  Mr.  Mineer,  who  escaped  through  the 
window  with  his  little  daughter,  had  been  so  badly  burned  from  the  waist 
down  that  his  death,  which  took  j^lace  the  morning  after  the  fii-e,  was  but 
a  relief  from  intense  suffering.  The  httle  girl  may  recover,  but  it  is  doubt- 
ful, and  thus  a  whole  family  will  be  completely  annihilated  through  the 
insanity  of  the  poor  mother,  who  had  for  some  time  been  despondent  over 
financial  difficulties,  under  the  severe  pressure  of  Avhich  her  mind  ultimately 
gave  way. 

It  seems  the  poor  woman  has  for  some  time  been  working  herself  al- 
most to  death  to  keep  her  family  from  suflfering  and  want.  And  her  hus- 
band, who  has  been  engaged  in  farming  in  a  small  way,  was  unable,  owing 
to  Chinese  competition,  to  make  his  business  pay.  Seeing  nothing  before 
them  but  starvation,  want,  or  the  almshouse,  the  unfortunate  [victim  of 
Masonry] ,  seeing  life  itself  and  all  its  pleasures  slipping  from  her  grasp, 


A  Vigilance  Committee.  521 

conceived  the  idea  that  by  destroying  tlie  entire  family  with  a  blow,  she 
would  save  them  from  a  moi'e  wretched  fate.  Having  made  every  pre- 
paration for  the  sad  event,  after  saturating  the  house  with  coal  oil,  she 
finally  concluded  the  dreadful  work  by  throwing  the  Kerosene  over  her 
husband's  clothes,  thus  destroying  every  chance  of  saving  him  from  a  fiery 
death.  But  little  of  the  remains  of  the  children  could  be  found  after  the 
fire,  and  the  woman's  head  was  completely  consumed." 

*  * 
«■ 

"The  country  is  overrun  with  idle  men  in  search  of  work,  but  few 
succeed  in  obtaining  jobs,  and  they  do  not  know  what  to  do.  Some  re- 
ceive employment  at  a  dollar  a  day;  others  wander  over  the  country,  pack- 
ing their  blankets  and  asking  for  something  to  eat  when  hungry,  as  they 
move  along.  Be  kind  to  such  men,  for  they  are  not  professional  tramps, 
but  poor,  deluded  laborers,  who  came  a  great  distance  to  seek  honest  toil, 
but  found  it  not. 

How  cheerless  such  men's  pros^jects  ! " 

[The  "kindness"  accorded  such  as  these  was  to  be  stigmatized  as 
"vagrants,"  &c.,  &c.,  and  imprisoned  and  driven  out,  because  they  had  no 
unshorn  fleece  and  were,  therefore,  "suspicious"  and  "objectionable" 
characters  to  other  men  who  had  been  thrown  up  by  accident  or  raised  by 
their  own  villainy,  and  who  should  tremble  because  of  their  undivulged 
crimes,  unwhipped  of  justice.  Yet,  such  as  the  following  article  could  be 
seen  in  the  press  most  any  day.] 

"There  were  large  numbers  of  arrests,  and  the  'cooler'  was  crowded 
to  its  utmost  capacity.  With  one  or  two  exceptions  vagrancy  was  the  charge, 
and  the  parties  will  be  summarily  sent  out  of  the  city  and  warned  not  to  re- 
turn.^' 

[And  there  was  no  Governor,  no  troops,  no  courts,  no  protection 
whatever  for  these  victims,  many  of  whom  "could  a  tale  unfold  whose 
lightest  word  would  harrow  up  thy  soul."] 

*  * 
* 

"I  am,"  says  the  writer,  "a  laboring  man,  and  have  hard  work  to 
make  a  living  for  a  family,  and  if  the  spirit  of  oppression  that  is  continu- 
ally growing  does  not  stoj^,  our  condition  will  soon  be  Avorse  than  that  of 
the  laboring  men  of  England.  Numerous  cases  have  come  up  lately  in 
this  community,  where  honest  laboring  men  have  been  swindled  out  of 
their  wages  and  turned  out  upon  the  road  to  tramp,  beg  or  steal."  [There 
being  no  Governor,  no  troops,  no  courts,  no  protection  whatever  for  them, 
in  person  or  projDerty.  ] 

"They  [the  Masons]  had  no  ear  for  anything  but  money  !  money  ! 
money  !     It  was  madness  to  urge  morality — it  was  ruin  to  speak  of  law." 


' '  The  Seattle  dehnqiaent  tax  list  is  13  feet  long.     Poor  Seattle,  what 
hast  thou  done  ?  "     [Suffered  members  of  the  gang  to  hold  office.] 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  Taktakic  Masonic  Horde  vs.  Amekican  Citizens. — The  anti-Chinese 
Congress,  etc.,  etc. — (How  to  read  newspapers  intelligently.) 

"A  Crisis  !" 

1  O  the  thinking  man — even  to  the  man  Avho  does  not  think — it  is  evi- 
deut  that  we  are  upon  a  momentous  crisis.  Never  in  the  history  of  Puget 
Sound  has  there  been  a  time  when  it  was  more  clearly  the  duty  of  the 
calm  to  remain  calm,  of  the  law-abiding  to  maintain  their  respect  for  law,  of 
the  passionate  to  hold  their  passions  in  restraint.  The  air  is  full  of 
rumors,  and  they  all  mean  that  the  people  will  soon  have  to  solve  for 
themselves  a  most  important  jjroblem. 

Our  towns  are  full  of  idle  men,  of  men  who  are  willing  and  anxious  to 
work  at  any  wages,  however  low.  All  they  demand  is  a  bare  living  for 
themselves  and  families.     This  they  must  have. " 

[The  Chinese  and  American  masons  in  conjunction  had  prostituted 
the  Government  and  courts,  so  as  to  nulhfy  the  laws  excluding  the  Chinese 
from  the  country;  this  so  inflamed  the  people,  many  of  whom  were  in  sore 
distress  on  account  of  the  same,  that  they  determined  to  rectify  such  in- 
triguing deeds  of  darkness,  and  \drtually  enforce  the  laws  against  them. 

It  being  customary  to  kill,  rob  and  drive  out  poor  American  citizens 
with  impunity,  though  being  lawfully  where  they  were,  only  because 
they  Avere  "objectionable,"  why  then  should  these  objectionable 
masons,  who  despise  and  discard  and  prostitute  our  Government,  set  up 
one  of  their  own  m  our  very  midst — lurking  in  the  dark — to  which  they 
owe  their  allegiance;  are  here  in  violation  of  law,  without  honesty  or 
virtue,  a  swarm  of  masonic  vermin  over-creeping  the  land,  gaining  by 
intrigue  and  masonry  what  their  ancestors  did  over  the  Roman  Empire  by 
force  of  arms.  Why  then  should  they  have  any  more  influence,  power 
and  protection,  with  and  from  our  Government,  than  full-fledged  Ameri- 
can citizens  ?] 

"The  Anti-Chinese  Congress 

assembled  at  Seattle  to  consider  the  best  method  to  rid  the  Puget  Sound 
country  of  the  Chinese  curse.  There  was  a  very  large  attendance, 
nearly  all  principal  points  on  the  Sound  being  fully  represented. 

Mayor  Weisback,  of  Tacoma,  was  chosen  Chairman.  He  considered 
the  question  as  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  whole  nation  as  well  as 
to  this  section.  There  has  been  nothing  since  the  war  so  important. 
These  Chinamen  are  not  here  under  authority  of  law.  When  the  laws 
fail  to  afi'ord  the  people  iirotection,  the  people  are  in  duty  bound  to 
protect  themselves.  The  people,  when  united,  can  accompHsh  wonders. 
We  started  in  six  months  ago,  at  Tacoma,  to  fight  the  Chinamen.  We 
legislated  against  them  in  our  city  council,  but  [their  brethren]  of  San 

(522) 


The  Tartamc  Horde.  523 


Francisco  have  employed  [masonic]  lawyers  to  break  down  my  Goveru- 
nieut  and  declare  our  ordinances  void.  We  went  to  those  [masons]  who 
rent  houses  to  them  and  tried  to  get  them  to  covenant  with  us  that  they 
would  not  rent  or  lease  to  Chinamen,  but  they  refuse  to  sign.  You  curse 
the  Cliinamen  for  coming  here.  They  are  not  to  blame.  You  ought  to 
take  the  men  who  brought  them  here  by  the  neck  and  choke  them.  In 
this  crusade  you  have  the  united  cajaital  [masons]  of  the  coast  against  you 
— a  hard  fight.  I  have  been  engaged  in  the  work  for  years;  chains  and 
prisons  have  been  my  i^ortion,  but  I  believe  there  is  an  eternal  justice." 

"Dr.  Taylor  referred  to  the  insults  heaped  upon  the  working 
people  by  [masonic]  capital,  and  to  the  hardships  endiired  by  poor 
laboring  women  on  account  of  Chinese  competition.  He  advocated 
boycotting  all  who  employed  Chinamen." 

"Mr.  Magill  said,  when  he  left  Tacoma,  his  constituents  had  told 
him  that  if  any  of  their  delegates  became  weak-kneed,  or  faltered,  to 
telegraijh  the  fact,  and  they  would  never  be  allowed  to  land." 

"  G.  Venerable  Smith  spoke  of  the  anti-Chinese  crusade  in  California, 
and  the  obstacles  which  had  been  thrown  in  the  way  of  any  legal  measures 
owing  to  the  interpretation  by  the  [masonic]  courts  and  the  [masonic] 
lawyers." 

"  The  committee  presented,  and  the  meeting  unanimously  adoj^ted 
the  following  : 

Predvible  and  Resolulions. 

' '  The  citizens  of  Western  Washington  Territoiy  in  convention  assem 
bled,  for  the  piu'pose  of  devising,  ways  and  means  to  rid  our  Territory  from 
the  presence  of  the  Chinese,  declare  the  following  princijiles  and  resohi- 
tions  as  our  own  sentiments  : 

"It  is  the  diTty  of  our  citizens  to  organize  themselves  for  the  exjiul- 
sion  of  and  protection  against  the  invasion  and  the  presence  of  elements 
foreign  to  the  principles  of  the  laws  of  existence,  of  self-i^rotection,  of 
mutual  good  government  and  its  aims  and  results,  our  indi%'idual  and  col- 
lective welfai-e  and  happiness. 

"  Life's  highest  gain  is  individual  hajipiness,  the  duty  of  true  and 
just  government,  is  to  promote  the  same,  to  create,  disjiense  and  promote 
the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number.  Where  governments  are  formed 
they  are  and  ought  to  be  a  mutual  contract  for  equal  rights,  equal  burdens 
and  equal  justice  to  all,  thereby  jiromoting  the  welfare  and  hapjnness  of 
all  its  members.  No  government  can  be  just  where  elements  are  iierniitted 
to  exist,  which,  by  their  natiire,  are  not  fiilly  responsible  to  all  duties  of 
citizensliiiJ,  and  whose  jiroductions  flow  not  in  a  collective  fund  to  enrich 
the  commonwealth  with  their  productiveness,  and  assist  the  same  with 
their  full,  true,  and  loyal  sui^iJort.  The  principles  are  most  grossly  vio- 
lated when  elements  are  introduced  in  the  body  politic,  which,  while  they 
share  the  full  rights,  benefits  and  protection  of  the  government  with 
the  rest  of  the  citizens,  are  [as  masons]  not  in  sympathy  and  accord  with 


524  A  Crisis. 

the  same.  They  become  factors  iu  our  institutions,  conductive  of  condi- 
tions which  are  positively  and  absolutely  in  every  respect  in  direct  oppo- 
sition with  every  principle  of  true  Republican  Democratic  Government, 
are  in  opiJosition  ^vith  every  law  of  pohtical  economy,  and  are  opposed  to 
our  homes,   families,  health,  decency  and  morahty. 

^^  Resolved,  That  the  present  excited  state  of  the  jseople  on  this  coast, 
and  the  depressed  conditions  of  industries  and  commerce,  are  due  to  and 
directly  traceable  to  the  persistent  refusal  of  Congress  to  legislate  in  the 
interests  of  the  j^eople. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  our  firm  and  steadfast  resolution  to  rid  our  Terri- 
tory, and  if  possible  the  United  States,  from  the  j^resence  of  Chinese  slave 
labor. 

^'Resolved,  That  to  accomphsh  this  end  we  ask  all  citizens  to  discharge 
all  Chinese  in  their  emi^loy. 

'^Resolved,  That  on  the  return  of  the  delegates  to  their  respective 
localities,  they  shall  call  mass  meetings,  to  be  held  October  3,  1885,  for 
the  purpose  of  ajipointing  committees  to  notify  the  Chinese  to  leave  on  or 
before  November  1,  1885.  [White  American  citizens  were  generally  given 
only  a  few  hours  or  even  minutes.]  These  delegates  shall  call  mass  meet- 
ings of  the  citizens  to  hear  the  reports  of  said  committee  on  November  6, 
1885." 

* 

''Seattle,  October'  16th,  1885. 

Mr.  Editor : — ^We,  the  citizens  of  Seattle,  wish  to  get  a  healing  in 
some  way  in  reference  to  the  Chinese  question,  as  it  is  impossible  to  do  so  in 
the  papers  j)ubhshed  in  Seattle,  they  being  pubHshed  in  the  interests  of  a 
few  wealthy  [masons]  who  have  houses  and  gardens  to  rent  to  Chinamen. 
There  are  jDrobably  not  more  than  fifty  persons  in  Seattle  (of  7,000  or 
8,000  inhabitants]  Avho  wish  the  Chinese  to  remain  here  and  on  the  Sound. 
Those  fifty  are  [masons]  who  have  shanties  and  gardens  to  rent  to  China- 
men. 

Every  meeting  held  and  every  speech  made  by  the  Anti-Chinese 
people  here  is  ridiculed  and  called  incendiary  and  the  Hke  by  the  papers 
of  Seattle. 

I  ask  if  we  are  not  all  united  in  the  desire  to  be  rid  of  the  Chinamen  ? 
I  ask  if  a  few  aristocrats  and  lovers  [masonic  brothers]  of  Chinamen  are 
going  to  dictate  to  the  people  what  they  shall  do  ?  As  this  movement  is 
for  the  universal  good  of  the  people,  I  ask  why  not  all  join  in  the  good 
work?  H.  B.  Kidder." 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

"Anti-Chinese." — "A  great  demonstration.'" — The  largest  torch-light  pro- 
cession ever  seen  in  the  Territory. — An  enthusiastic  meeting. — Speeches 
and  Resolutions. — (How  to  read  the  press  "between  the  lines.") 


J  .  J.  KNOFF  was  elected  secretary  and  Mrs.  Kenwoiihy  vice-pre.sideut. 
The  lady  said:  '  I  thank  you  for  the  honor  and  hope  I  shall  never  disgrace 
the  position.  I  shall  always  stand  by  the  workingman.  Abraham  Lincoln 
said,  '  Keep  near  the  workingman,  and  you  will  always  be  right. ' 

J.  A.  Comerford  said:  'When  I  look  about  at  this  vast  concourse  of 
people  which,  by  the  permission  of  Governor  [Mason]  and  the  deputy 
sheriffs,  have  met  together,  when  I  see  such  an  aii-ay  of  ladies  and  gentle- 
men and  hear  the  generous  ajiplatise,  I  reahze  that  this  is  more  than  an 
ordinary  occasion.  In  the  disj^atches  we  read,  your  dude  milk  and 
water  Governor  said,  '  the  better  class  of  peojile  were  in  favor  of  the  Cliinese 
remaining. '  I  ask  the  Governor  by  what  standard  he  judges  this  jjeople. 
ril  tell  Governor  \Mason^  that  he  lies  from  his  teeth  to  his  heart,  whe7i  he  calls 
the  [Masonic]  thieves  wlio  stole  our  timber  and  coal  lands  the  better  class  of 
our  citizens.  There  has  not  even  been  a  queue  on  one  of  theu"  heads  twist- 
ed, and  yet  Governor  [Mason]  talks  of  quartering  troojjs  in  our  midst.  If 
I  should  meet  a  man  with  a  musket  standing  around,  to  keejj  my  con- 
science, I  would  kill  him,  if  my  steel  would  reach  his  heart.  In  Tacoma 
we  had  800  Chinamen.  We  told  them  to  go.  We  now  have  about  100, 
who  would  go  but  for  a  gagging  [Masonic]  corporation,  which  tells  them 
to  stay. 

The  two  per  cent,  sharps  who  have  robbed  the  j^eople  of  their  coal 
and  timber  lands,  will  learn  to  their  sorrow  that  this  is  not  riot,  but  a  re- 
volution. Laws  never  enforce  themselves.  I'll  tell  Governor  [Mason] ,  if 
he  is  honest  he  will  arm  his  deputies  and  make  a  coast  guard  to  keep  the 
Chinamen  out.  We  have  no  deputies  in  Tacoma;  the  man  who  would  ac- 
cept  such  a  position  would  be  a  marked  man. ' 

P.  P.  Good  said :  '  I  would  hke  to  know,  if  I  am  one  who  does  not  be- 
long to  the  respectable  citizens  of  Washington  Territory.  I  would  Hke  to 
knew  if  Governor  [Mason]  could  get  as  large  a  class  of  followers  as  we 
have  to-night ' 

The  following  resolutions  were  read  and  adapted : 

'  The  Chinese  bring  with  them  habits  and  customs  the  most  vicious 
and  demoralizing.  They  [hke  their  American  brethren]  are  scornful  of 
our  laws  and  institutions.  They  [hke  other  Masons]  have  their  own  gov- 
ernments, tribunals  and  i^unishments  within  our  own,  securely  separated 
and  iDrotected  from  our  own,  as  if  in  the  interior  of  China,  and  are  utterly 

(525 1 


526  A  Great  Demonstration. 


unfitted  for  American  citizenship.  They  creep  in  by  fraud,  evasion  and 
cunning.  In  vain  have  the  j^eople  protested,  murmm-ed  and  complained 
of  the  -weakness  of  the  treaty,  the  laws  and  the  efibrts  to  exclude  them. 
In  vain  have  they  cried  against  this  calamitous,  this  humiUating  evil. 
Therefore,  resolved,  that  to  save  ourselves  from  this  bhghting  evil,  it  is 
necessary  that  more  prompt  and  vigorous  measures  than  have  heretofore 
been  exercised,  shoiild  be  used.  That  public  sentiment,  ha^•ing  lost  faith 
in  all  other  methods,  is  aroused  to  the  firm  determination  of  using  its 
own  forces  and  the  social  influences  under  its  control  to  that  end;  and  be- 
heviug  that  when  the  i^iirpose  of  a  free  i:)eople  is  formed,  and  intensified 
by  disapi:)ointment  and  betrayals  in  its  reliance  ui:)on  usual  methods,  and 
in  the  face  of  great  danger  and  humihation,  as  in  the  present  case,  that 
such  a  public  sentiment  is  irresistible,  and  that,  if  wisely  directed  and 
shajjed  by  agitation,  organization  and  discussion,  it  will  manifest  and  en- 
force the  highest  exjjression  of  law  by  a  free  peojile,  to  the  laudable  end 
of  excluding  the  Mongolian  curse  from  the  land.'  " 

[At  a  subsequent  big  meeting  the  following  was  read  and  adopted :] 

"  Whereas,  about  four  years  ago,  certain  of  our  leading  citizens,  busi- 
ness men  and  others,  forcibly  took  from  the  officers  of  the  law  and  from 
the  county  jail  three  persons  charged  with  crime  and,  without  trial  and 
against  law,  summarily  executed  them,  and,  according  to  the  letter  of  the 
law,  said  citizens,  business  men  and  other  persons  committed  dehberate 
and  premeditated  murder,  and  set  at  defiance  the  law  of  the  land;  and 

JVJtereas,  such  acts  have  gone  without  prosecution,  and  although 
several  Grand  Juries  were  expressly  instriicted  to  find  indictments  against 
the  guilty  j^arties  in  such  acts  of  murder,  no  indictment  was  ever  found 
thereon,  although  there  had  been  no  such  laxity  in  the  administration  of 
justice  that  should  then  justify  such  extreme  measures  under  the  excuse 
of  a  last  resort,  but  not  now  wishmg  to  palliate  the  necessity  or  justice  of 
such  acts  on  the  part  of  those  who  thus  took  the  law  in  their  own  hands, 
we  are  oj^posed  to  making  fisli  of  one  set  of  citizens  and  fowl  of  another. 

Resolved,  that  the  citizens  of  Tacoma,  who  removed  the  Chinese  from 
their  city  by  force,  which  was  characterized  by  no  violence  or  unciviHzed 
act,  were  moved  by  a  greater  public  necessity  and  pubHc  indignation  than 
sustained  the  peojile  of  Seattle  in  taking  the  lives  of  their  victims,  and 
that  said  latter  necessity  and  public  indignation  was  founded  more  in  the 
laxity  of  the  administration  of  the  law,  the  otherwise  irremediable  pubhc 
injuries  of  a  worse  character  than  was  charged  against  the  Seattle  victims, 
as  being  or  leading  to  multiplication  of  such  acts  so  charged,  and  after  the 
peojjle  of  Tacoma,  in  common  with  others  throughout  the  coast,  have  been 
more  forbearing  under  greater  wrongs  and  oppressions  of  long  suffering, 
by  the  neglect  of  the  Government  and  its  non-protection  of  its  own  citizens, 
without  other  hope  of  relief. 

Resolved,  that  it  is  the  almost  unanimous  opinion  of  pubhc  sentiment 
on  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  the  facts  and  circumstances  are  known  and 


A  Great  Demonstration.  527 

understood,  that  the  citizens  of  Tacoma  Avho  are  indicted  for  removing  the 
Chinese  from  that  city,  have  effected  great  jniljlic  good  in  the  only  effect- 
ual manner;  we,  in  common -vvith  the  mass  of  citizens  on  this  coast,  believe 
that  the  prosecution  of  said  indictments  will  effect  no  good — would  be  an 
injustice  to  the  defendants,  whilst  the  Seattle  lynchers  go  unprosecuted, 
and  we,  therefore,  request  that  either  suits  for  indictments  be  dismissed, 
or  with  such  proposed  prosecution  the  Seattle  lynchers  be  also  prosecuted, 
so  that  justice  loitliout  discriminatioii  will  he  meted  out  by  tlteso-cnlled  impartial 
ndministj'ator  of  justice  under  a  free  government. 

Resolved  furUier,  that  the  United  States  attorney  should  wash  his 
hands  of  the  charges  against  him  in  taking  part  in  the  execution  of  the 
three  men  in  Seattle,  before  he  undertakes  to  prosecute  the  Tacoma 
citizens." 

"  3frs.  M.  A.  Kenwortliy  [among  others]  was  called.  She  was  truly 
surprised  when  elected  on  the  committee,  but  never  desired  to  stand  back 
when  duty  to  her  country  demanded  her  services. 

'  I  fear  these  Chinamen  will  be  protected  by  men  and  cause  much 
trouble.  This  is  a  serious  matter  and  cannot  be  accomplished  in  a  day. 
These  Chinese  are  in  our  families,  they  take  the  work  from  our  girls.  Did 
you  ever  read  the  aj^peal  of  the  working  women  of  San  Francisco,  and 
hear  the  prayers  of  the  poor,  star^dng  creatures  who  are  trying  to  work  at 
Chinamen's  wages  and  support  their  families  ?  Do  you  wonder  that  these 
women  are  driven  to  desperation  and  ruin  ?  I  would  do  anything  on 
earth,  before  I  would  see  my  children  starve.  I  would  take  my  pistol  and 
shoot  my  way  through. '" 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  Tacoma  trouble  and  exodus. — '^  Straightforirard  statement  signed  hif 
pj-a7nineni  citizens." — [Which  "will  a^jply  as  well  to  the  exodus  of  the 
Chinese  at  Seattle.  ] 

a  T 

1 NASMUCH  as  many,  acting  on  misinformation  or  actuated  by  male- 
volence, have  taken  it  in  hand  to  assiduously  misi-epresent  the  facts  con- 
cerning the  exodus  of  the  Chinese  from  Tacoma,  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1885,  it  IS  deemed  advisable  to  place  the  facts  as  they  exist  before  the 
public.  There  was  no  insurrection,  no  mob  seized  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment or  attempted  to  control  the  administration  of  the  law,  there  was 
no  violence  offered  to  the  person,  or  damage  done  to  the  property  of  a 
single  Chinamen,  the  peojsle  did  not  force  open  the  doors  or  seize  ujjon 
or  destroy  the  effects  of  the  Chinamen,  there  was  not  a  club,  ax,  knife, 
gun,  jiistol  or  weajDon  seen  or  known  to  have  been  in  the  jjossession  of 
any  of  the  parties  who  waited  uijon  the  Chinamen,  their  goods  were 
not  thrown  into  the  street,  they  were  not  driven  out  to  an  open  prairie, 
or  left  without  shelter,  there  was  not  a  Chinaman  that  died  or  that  was 
struck,  not  a  single  drop  of  Chinese  blood  was  shed,  not  a  single  China- 
man could  show  a  bruise  received  from  a  white  man There  was 

no  noise  or  excitement;  no  harsh  or  cruel  treatment  was  manifested 
toward  the  intruding  people.  Many  of  them  bade  their  acquaintances 
on  the  committee  and  in  the  crowd  a  friendly  good-bye.  So  quiet  was 
it  that  many  of  the  citizens  did  not  know  of  the  exodus  until  they  read 
of  it  in  the  city  papers.  During  the  day  there  was  but  one  man  seen 
that  was  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and  he  was  closely  guarded. 

On  the  morning  of  November  3d,  the  citizens  assembled,  organized 
themselves  into  a  committee  and  started  for  the  various  Chinese  dens, 
where  the  Committee  of  Fifteen,  formally  appointed  by  the  pubhc,  ap- 
Ijeared  and  notified  the  inmates  thereof  that  the  time  allotted  for  their 
dejiarture  had  arrived,  and  that  the  committee  would  aid  them  if  they 
wished  to  leave  the  city.  The  Chinamen,  with  few  exceptions,  began  im- 
mediately to  pack  their  goods.  A  guard  was  jDlaced  over  their  places  to 
see  that  no  one  molested  them.  Teams  were  furnished  them  without  cost, 
and  their  goods  were  transported  to  the  nearest  depot  outside  of  the  city. 
A  committee  of  citizens  went  with  them  and  procured  shelter  for  them  for 
the  night.  Food  in  abundance  was  sent  to  them  by  the  citizens.  Every 
kindness  that  the  circumstances  would  permit  of  was  shown  them  by  all, 
The  social  necessity  that  required  their  departure  was  not  allowed  to  in- 
terfere with  the  dictates  of  humanity.  To  every  Chinaman  whose  business 
was  such  that  he  could  not  go,  time  was  given.  To  those  to  whom  any  one 
was  indebted,  every  assistance  that  was  possible  was  given,  to  collect  or  get 
their  accounts  secured.     Some  five  Aveeks  jirevious  to  their  dejiarture,  a 

(.■528) 


The  Tacoma  Exodus.  529 


peaceable  solution  of  the  question  was  sought,  and  agreement  was  made  to 
pay  the  Chinamen  for  their  immovables.  They  agreed  to  accept  $2,500 
and  depart,  but  when  the  final  arrangements  were  being  completed,  they 
took  a  sudden  change  and  refused  to  negotiate  further,  saying,  that  if 
their  jjroperty  was  destroyed  they  could  get  damages  from  the  United 
States  Government." 

[And  I  noticed  that  September  24,  1888,  a  masonic  senator  ' '  offered 
an  amendment  approisriating  $276,000!  for  indemnity  for  outrages  ou 
Chinese  in  the  Territories;  agreed  to,  the  bill  was  then  jjassed." 

But  the  outraged  white  citizens  have  no  recourse  ;  their  "  truth  and 
justice  is  buried,  and  fraud  and  guile  succeed."] 

' '  The  Chinese  houses  in  Tacoma  were  all  the  abodes  of  social  sins, 
opium  dens  and  gambling  holes.  The  burnt  district  consisted  of  a  scant 
half  acre  on  the  tide  flats.  In  this  small  space,  in  low,  compact  huts,  with 
secret  passage-ways  in  every  direction,  lived  over  400  Chinamen, 
with  fifty-two  hogs,  and  chickens  and  ducks  unnumbered.  Here  were 
stores,  washhouses  and  restaurants  ;  here  were  many  women,  and  only  one 
of  whom  had  the  dignity  of  being  a  wife.  The  origin  of  the  fire  in  China- 
town is  unknown.  Chinamen  stated  to  various  persons  that  they  did  not 
care  for  their  property,  for  if  it  was  destroyed  the  [masonic]  Chinese 
Consul  at  Washington  would  make  the  Government  pay  them  for  it.  That 
the  United  States  Government  would  reimburse  them  for  whatever  was 
lost  was  a  universal  behef  among  them.  The  fire  occurred  two  days  sub- 
sequent to  their  departure.  Their  goods  and  effects  were  nearly  all  gone; 
the  remnants  were  ready  to  leave  on  the  morning  train.  The  old  shells 
and  dens  were  not  worth  $1,000,  and  the  place  where  they  stood  was  held 
on  sufferance.  The  health  officer  had  inspected  the  place  and  j^ronounced 
it  the  vilest  spot  he  had  ever  examined  used  as  a  human  habitation. 

The  parties  indicted  are  all  men  of  property,  character,  and  social 
worth.  Of  them  three  are  merchants,  three  journalists,  two  retail  butchers, 
six  carpenters  and  builders,  three  blacksmiths,  one  di-aughtsman,  two 
plumbers,  one  photographer,  one  brickmason,  one  shoe  manufacturer,  one 
farmer,  one  moulder,  one  boat  builder,  one  civil  engineer,  and  one  lawyer. 
They  include  the  Mayor  of  Tacoma,  two  of  the  city  council,  the  Probate 
Judge  of  Pierce  county,  the  Chief  of  the  Fu-e  Dejjartment,  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  All  but  two  have  families, 
and  represent  sixty-four  children  and  eleven  grandchildren.  All  of  them 
are  citizens,  sixteen  native-bom.  Eleven  served  in  the  United  States 
army  during  the  late  war.  These  men  simply  carried  out  the  Avishes  of 
nine-tenths  of  the  people  of  Tacoma. 

[No  Chinese  have  since  resided  in  Tacoma,  which  would  have  been 
the  case  with  Seattle  and  the  other  places,  but  for  the  discrimination  in 
favor  of  the  Chinese  over  native  citizens  bv  masonic  officials — their  breth- 


ren.    Let  no  such  men  be  trusted.] 
34 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

Story  of  the  Captain  of  the  Queen  as  to  tlie  Seattle  exodus. — 97  Chinamen  in 
court. — "  Tlie  Goveiniment  is  strong  and  uyill jJroted  the  Masons." 

1  HE  caistain  said,  that  "the  first  intimation  he  had  of  any  disorder  in 
Seattle  was  about  7  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  when  wagons  and  carts 
and  everything  that  would  carry  freight  came  rumbhng  down  to  the  wharf , 
accompanied  by  a  few  Chinese  attendants,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  un- 
load. Soon  after  the  Captain  started  up-town,  and  on  his  way  met  a  large 
crowd  of  citizens,  who  accosted  him  with  the  remark  that  'the  Chinese 
must  go,  and  on  his  steamer,  too. ' 

At  that  time  the  uprising  element  comprised  at  least  3000  people,  and 
the  entire  city  seemed  to  be  subject  to  their  control.  There  were  no  threats 
to  speak  of,  nor  tendency  toward  mob  violence — simply  a  determined  up- 
rising that  might  result  in  something  serious,  if  its  purpose  was  impeded. 

That  it  was  the  general  desire  of  the  citizens  of  Seattle,  that  the 
Chinese  should  go,  and  that  the  entire  city  was  in  sympathy  with  the  up- 
rising was  ajjparent  from  the  fact  that  as  soon  as  he  announced  that  none 
could  go  on  his  steamer  unless  his  fare  was  paid,  money  began  to  accumu- 
late in  the  hands  of  a  certain  committee,  and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes 
the  fares  of  171  Chinese  had  been  paid,  the  money  obviously  coming  from 
the  purses  of  the  wealthier  classes. 

The  'Queen'  did  not  sail  at  her  appointed  time.  On  Monday  the  first 
lot  of  Chinese  who  were  driven  to  the  dock,  87  in  number,  were  demanded 
on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  to  aj^pear  in  court  and  state  whether  or  not 
they  were  willing  to  go.  [They  having  influence  at  court  that  citizens 
have  not.]  Seventy-one  repHed  affirmatively  and  were  returned,  and 
afterwards  100  more  were  taken  on  board,  although  in  no  instance  until 
each  had  acknowledged  that  it  was  his  desire  to  leave.  Could 
have  taken  a  large  number  in  addition,  had  it  not  been  that  he  was  re- 
stricted by  law  as  to  the  number  of  steerage  passengers. 

Those  who  were  left  were  coralled  with  their  baggage  in  a  large  ware- 
house on  the  dock.  As  long  as  he  remained  in  the  town,  there  was  no 
violence  whatever,  only  the  intense  determination,  which  seemed  to  in- 
crease with  each  hour  and  was  attended  with  great  excitement.  Just  a 
short  time  after  he  sailed  out  of  the  harbor,  however,  he  heard  the  crack 
of  rifles,  and  knew  then  that  the  worst  had  come." 

[How  the  Government  will  protect  Masonic  Chinamen,  when  even 
home-building  American  citizens  cannot  even  get  a  hearing  against  the 
gang.] 

"All  the  Chinese  on  board  the  ship  were  escorted  to  the  court-house 
by  the  sheriff  and  his  posse.  The  Chinese  in  the  warehouse  also  came 
along,  but  they  remained  outside  the  building  during  the  trial,     [Which 

(530) 


The  Seattle  Exodus.  531 


proved  that  they  needed  no  protection  from  violence  in  the  streets.^  United 
States  jji-osecutiug  attorney  apijearecl  for  tlie  Chinamen. 

After  getting  the  names  of  the  97  Chinamen,  the  Jiidge  had  Lne  King 
sworn  in  as  interpreter  [what  does  a  Chinese  Mason  or  highbinder  care  for 
an  oath  ?]  and  throiigh  him  spoke  as  follows  : 

'  Lue  King  tell  them  that  the  court  has  been  told  that  they  are  con- 
fined on  board  the  steamshii?  'Queen  of  the  Pacific'  against  their  will.  The 
court  is  willing,  if  they  desire,  that  they  shall  go  as  passengers,  but  no 
man  or  set  of  men  has  a  right  to  compel  them  to  go.  So,  if  they  wish  tO' 
stay,  they  must  let  the  court  know  it  now.  I  will  have  the  name  of  each 
man  called  separately,  and  let  him  tell  whether  he  wants  to  go  or  stay. 
Tell  them,  not  to  be  afraid  to  sjjeak  what  is  in  their  hearts.  The  Govern- 
ment is  strong  and  will  protect  them.  Tell  them,  that  as  their  names  are 
called  all  those  who  are  willing  to  keep  their  tickets  and  go  to  CaHfornia 
must  express  a  -wilHngness  to  do  so,  and  all  who  want  to  give  uji  their 
tickets  and  stay  here  must  say  so. ' 

Sixteen  expressed  a  desire  to  stay,  and  71  a  willingness  to  go.  They 
were  all  escorted  back  to  the  wharf,  and  those  who  had  expressed  a  will- 
ingness to  go  were  placed  upon  the  shij).  A  great  many  of  those  whose 
baggage  was  on  the  wharf  went  back  to  the  dock  and  expressed  a  willing- 
ness to  go,  provided  transportation  was  fui-nished  them." 

[Native  citizens,  when  "objectionable,"  have  to  get  out  the  best  way 
they  can,  and  no  fooHshness.] 

*  * 

* 

"About  10  o'clock  a  report  came  to  the  ears  of  Sheriff  [Mason],  that 
the  Shore  Line  train  was  to  be  captured  and  the  Chinamen  left  on  the 
Ocean  Dock  were  to  be  placed  on  it  and  taken  to  Tacoma.  A  sufficient 
sum  of  money  had  been  raised  to  buy  tickets  on  the  cars  to  Tacoma.  The 
Sheriff  notified  the  R.  R.  Company  that  it  would  be  held  responsible  for 
any  damages  resulting  from  the  carrying  off  of  the  Chinese  [Masons]  unlaw- 
fully and  against  their  will,  [when  hundreds  of  white  men  had  been  driven 
out  '  unlawfully  and  against  their  will, ']  and  to  avoid  any  trouble  that 
might  grow  out  of  '  such  an  act. '  And  to  prevent  the  train  being  seized, 
they  placed  on  the  engine  a  double  crew  and  started  the  train  out  ahead  of 
time.  A  short  time  before  the  train  left  (1.30  o'clock  Monday  morning), 
the  Sheriff  detailed  a  posse  of  deijuties  to  guard  the  Ocean  Dock,  and  not 
allow  any  one  to  pass  on  or  off  the  wharf  during  the  night  without  a 
special  permit.  The  Chinamen  who  were  in  the  warehouse,  about  215 
strong,  spread  their  blankets  and  stretched  out  for  the  night,  after  their 
supjjer,  furnished  by  those  in  charge  of  them." 

* 

[Meanwhile  the  Governor,  who  was  in  town  and  opposing  the  exodus, 
sent  the  following  dispatch  to  Washington:] 

"Immense  mob  forcing  Chinese  to  leave  Seattle.  Civil  authorities 
arming  posse  comitatus  to  protect  them.     Serious  conflict  jarobable.     I  re- 


632  The  Seattle  Exodus. 


spectfully  request  that  United  States  troops  be  immediately  sent  to 
Seattle. " 

[There  was  no  conflict  at  Tacoma,  and  there  was  no  danger  of  any 
conflict  here,  unless  done  by  the  "White  Chinamen,"  so  as  to  justify  the 
call  for  troojis  and  thus  prevent  the  exodus  of  theii-  brethren,  and  also  put 
coin  in  their  pockets,  as  will  be  seen  further  on. 

A  lot  of  deputy  sherififs  and  dei)uty  marshals  and  militia  had  been 
sworn  in/or  to  conflict,  and  a  lot  of  the  leading  citizens,  including  a  lady, 
arrested  and  jailed  on  a  charge  of  riot,  though  never  convicted. 

Still  the  people  had  not  been  aggravated  to  a  conflict,  and  without  a 
*'  conflict"  or  troops,  the  Chinese,  with  the  exception  of  six,  were  to  be 
gone  by  the  next  boat.] 

* '  The  captain  came  to  the  ofiice  and  stated  that  he  had  196  on  board, 
or  all  that  he  was  allowed  by  law  to  carry  Avith  the  other  jjassengers.  The 
matter  was  talked  over  between  the  rej^resentatives  of  the  anti-Chinese 
movement  and  Sheriff  [Mason]  and  some  of  his  aids,  and  it  was  mutually 
agreed  between  them  that  the  Chinamen  still  on  the  wharf,  all  of  iL'hom, 
with  the  exception  of  six,  had  exp7-essed  a  willingness  to  go,  but  were  unable 
to  leave  by  the  '  Queen, '  should  be  allowed  to  remain  in  town  until  the 
going  out  of  the  'Elder,'  unless  they  saw  fit  to  leave  sooner." 

"The  'Queen'  cast  off"  her  lines,  and  the  people  on  the  wharf  shook 
hands  and  congi-atulated  each  other  over  what  they  supjiosed  was  a  hapjjy 
ending  of  the  very  exciting  and  unj^leasant  controversy  which  had  been 
going  on  for  so  long.     [Yet  without  any  '  conflict. '] 

The  Chinaman  on  the  wharf,  ^^ith  the  exception  of  the  few  who  want- 
ed to  remain,  were  much  disappointed  when  the  steamer  left  without 
them,  and  it  was  Avith  reluctance  that  they  picked  up  their  baggage  to  re- 
tui'n  to  their  houses." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

"Home  Guaeds  "  fike  into  the  ckowd. — Five  men  wounded. — The  Citt 
UNDER  Mabtial  Law,  tinlli  Governor  \Maso)i\  in  command.'''' — (The 
only  case  of  the  kind  in  the  history  of  the  United  States.) 

He  drives  out  White  Citizens  and  protects  Chinese  Masons. 

(How  to  read  "  between  the  lines.") 

"  You  rule  with  all-oi^pressive  hand, 
Thy  hideous  soul,  Oh  !  fiend  accurs'd, 
Can  there  allay  its  bloody  thirst." 

I  1  HE  Chinese  needed  no  escort  or  protection  from  violence,  when  they 
went  from  the  wharf  to  the  Court  House  and  returned.  And  certainly 
they  needed  none  now  in  going  to  their  houses,  as  was  agreed  upon. 

They  had  perhaps  never  been  more  secure  from  violence  than  now, 
but  a  "  conflict"  must  be  had,  or  they  would  soon  all  be  gone. 

So,  as  if  with  a  flaming  desire  for  vengeance,  at  such  a  prospect,  afire- 
brand — even  a  lot  of  detested  armed  deputies  and  militia — went  to  escort- 
ing and  parading  the  Chinamen  in  a  body  through  the  streets,  with  an  air 
of  victory  and  bravado,  and  being  ridiculed  and  rebuked  by  citizens 
(who  were  not  aware  of  the  agreement  at  the  wharf)  instead  of  explain- 
ing and  disbanding — they  undertook  to  arrest  as  criminals  some  of  these 
citizens  for  theii*  rebuke  and  request  for  an  explanation,  and  on  their 
resisting,  shot  them  down  in  cold  blood,  and  one  after  he  was  down  ;  and 
he  died.] 

"The  crowd  had  fallen  back,  and  the  streets  were  swept  by  the  rifles 
of  the  miHtary  and  the  deputy  sheriffs.  The  crowd  commenced  to  gather 
again  after  the  wounded  had  been  removed,  and  in  a  few  minutes  there 
were  thousands  of  men  in  the  street  on  either  side  of  the  '  authorities. ' 

[Who,  though  held  to  the  spot,  concluded   it  to  be  unnecessary  to 
attempt  any  more  such  an-ests ;  the  agreement  at  the  wharf  was  now  ex-  _ 
plained,  and  the  military  companies  and  the  dejjuty  sherifi's  struck  out  for 
the  court  house,  while  the  Chinamen  proceeded  to  their  houses  unmo- 
lested. 

The  citizens  wanted  to  lynch  the  masons  who  did  the  shooting,  but  on 
the  advice  of  the  leading  anti-Chinese  agitators  they  abstained  from  any 
^'iolence,  and  peaceably  dispersed  to  their  homes,  being  assured  that  the 
criminals  would  get  justice  by  the  courts.] 

"  So  a  warrant  was  sworn  oiit  against  those  who  did  the  shooting, 
charging  them  with  murder. 

But  the  Judge  declared  that  '  those  men  were  ofiicers  of  his  court  and 
not  subject  to  arrest.'' 

He  further  stated  '  that 

(533) 


534  Martial  Law  on  Puget  Sound. 

Martial  Law 
had  been  declared,  and  that  ci\al  process  was  no  longer  binding,'  where- 
upon the  constable  retux'ned  his  warrant  unserved." 
["The  trail  of  the  serpent  was  over  them  all."] 

*  * 
* 

Shortly  after  the  shooting  Governor  [Mason]  issued  the  following: 

"  Proclamaiinn  of  Martial  Law." 

"  Wfiereas,  Heretofore  in  consequence  of  an  inflamed  condition  of 
the  pubHc  mind  in  Seattle,  and  grave  disturbance  of  the  jjubhc  peace 
therein,  I  [chief  mason]  issued  my  proclamation  warning  all  persons  to 
desist  from  breaches  of  the  peace,  and  peacefully  to  return  to  their 
homes,  except  such  as  were  disjjosed  to  assist  the  sheriff  [mason]  and 
the  other  duly  constituted  authorities  in  maintaining  law  and  order,  and 
requesting  all  persons  who  were  disposed  to  assist  in  maintaining  order 
[the  most  influential  of  those  doing  so  were  arrested]  to  enroll  them- 
selves under  the  sheriff  [mason]  immediately  for  that  purpose,  and 

IMiereas,  Said  proclamation  has  proven  ineffectual  to  quiet  the  pub- 
he  mind  and  preserve  the  peace,  and 

MHiei-eas,  Numerous  breaches  of  the  peace  have  occurred  [and  the 
most  infamous  indorsed  by  the  '  duly  constituted  authorities  ']  and  more 
are  threatened,  and 

Whereas,  An  insurrection  exists  in  said  city  of  Seattle,  by  which  the 
hves,  liberties  and  proj^erty  of  citizens  of  the  Territory  and  sojourners 
within  the  Territory  are  endangered,  and 

Whereas,  The  civil  authorities  have  proved  powerless  to  suppress 
said  insurrection,  or  prevent  such  breaches  of  the  jieace,  and 

Whe7'eas,  the  necessity  for  martial  law  ■nithin  said  city  exists,  and  it 
is  deemed  proper  that  all  needful  measures  should  be  taken  for  the  pro- 
tection of  such  citizens  and  sojourners,  and  of  all  ofiicers  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  Territory  in  the  discharge  of  their  pubhc  duties  within 
said  city.  Now,  therefore,  be  it  known  that  I  [chief  mason]  and  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  military  forces  of  said  Territory,  do  hereby  as- 
sume mihtary  command  of  said  city,  and  do  hereby  order  that  no  j^er- 
son  exercise  any  oflfice  or  autliority  in  said  city  which  may  be  inconsistent 
with  the  laws  and  constitution  of  the  United  States  or  the  laws  of  said 
Territory,  [and  he  was  to  be  the  Judge  against  the  almost  unanimous  judg- 
ment of  the  people^  "and  /  do  hereby  suspend  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  and 
declare  martial  law  within  said  city.     The  8th  day  of  February,  1886." 

["He  makes  a  solitude  and  calls  it  peace."] 

*  * 

"I  [chief  mason]  hereby  announce  the  following  [brethren]  members 
of  my  staff,  who  will  be  respected  and  obeyed  accordingly."  [One  of 
whom  is  a  notorious  thief.  ] 


Maetial  Law  on  Puget  Sound.  535 

"  Military  Headquaktees.  " 

"  Until  further  notice  all  saloons  and  places  where  intoxicating  hquor 
is  sold  will  be  forthwith  and  i)ermanently  closed  [though  he  could  swill  it 
down  himself],  and  all  other  places  of  business  shall  be  and  remain 
closed  between  the  hours  of  7  P.  M.  and  6  A.  M.  each  night.  All  persons 
found  on  the  streets  after  7  P.  M.  and  before  5  A.  M.  without  the  consent 
in  writing  of  the  [masonic]  Provost  Marshal,  will  be  arrested." 

"By  command  of  the  [chief  mason]." 

*  * 
* 

"Three  cajjtains  [masons]  will  report  with  their  respective  comjjanies 

to  the  Adjutant  General  at  headquarters  forthwith." 

*  * 
* 

"Captain  [Mason],  with  his  command,  will  re^jort  forthwith  for  duty 
to  Provost  Marshal."  [At  this  writing  he  is  under  $10,000  bail  as  belong- 
ing to  a  gang  of  opium  smugglers,  and  for  stealing.  ] 

"All  persons  willing  to  enhst  in  the  miHtary  service  of  the  Territory 
[for  the  Chinamen  against  the  people]  to  serve  in  the  city  of  Seattle,  are 
hereby  called  upon  to  rejiort  as  recruits  to  the  [masonic]  Provost  Mar- 
shal. " 

"All  persons  disposed  to  violate  any  law  of  the  Territory  [which  he 
himself  had  trami)led  under  foot]  or  treaty  [which  had  been  virtually 
abrogated  by  laio]  or  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  [which  he  himself 
was  basely  violating]  are  hereby  warned  and  commanded  to  leave  the  city 
forthwith."     [Members  of  the  gang  excepted.] 


"  The  guns  in  the  keeping  of  Stevens  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  were 
taken  charge  of  by  the  Governor  on  Sunday,  and  removed."  He  was 
afraid  of  the  old  veterans.] 

"Services  in  the  churches  were  cut  short  msome  cases,  and  dispensed 
with  in  others,  on  Sunday,  and  the  public  meetings  set  for  Monday  even- 
ing were  both  indefinitely  postponed."  [The  people  were  being  squelched 
to  protect  the  lawless  masons,  and  for  j)lunder.] 

"  About  7  o'clock  last  night  sentinels  were  stationed  all  over  town,  and 
patrolled  the  streets  all  night.  Every  man  on  the  street  after  that  time 
without  a  permit  from  the  Provost  Marshal  was  marched  either  to  his 
home  or  to  the  guard  house.  At  daylight  the  sentinels  w.ere  released, 
and  during  the  day  the  streets  were  patrolled  by  militia. 

The  [prostituted]  court  house  which  is  the  headquarters  of  the  [ma- 
sonic] authorities  under  [despotic]  military  rerjime  was  closely  guarded, 
and  a  sufficient  force  kept  on  duty  [at  the  expense  of  the  peojile]  to 
repel  any  ordinary  attack  [of  the  i^eople]  and  a  cannon  was  taken  to  the 
court  house  "  [to  kill  the  people]. 

"  During  Tuesday  the  [masons]  in  command  concluded  that  passes 
for  persons  to  be  about  the  streets  had  been  too  generously  granted,  and 


536  Martial  Law  on  Puget  Sounj 

all  passes  wei*e  ordered  called  in,  and  a  more  rigid  rnle  of  granting  them 
established." 

[And  still  there  was  no  "  violence, "  or  "conflict,"  or  "rebellion" 
on  the  part  of  the  citizens.  And  the  only  "invaders"  were  the  masonic 
highbinders  thus  protected.] 

*  * 

* 

The  President i7i  a  message sajB "under  this  article  [of  treaty]  an 

act  of  Congress  approved  1882,  amended  1884,  siisiaended  for  ten  years  the 
coming  of  Chinese  laborers  to  the  United  States ....  It  was,  however,  soon 
made  evident  that  the  mercenary  greed  of  parties  [masons]  who  were  trad- 
ing in  their  labor  was  proving  too  strong  for  the  just  execution  of  the  law, 
and  that  the  virtual  defeat  of  the  object  and  intent  of  both  the  law  and  the 
treaty  was  being  fraudulently  accomplished  by  false  pretense  and  perjury 
contrary  to  the  expressed  will  of  both  governments, . . . .  has  ijroduced  deeji- 
seated  and  increasing  discontent  among  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and 
especially  with  those  resident  on  the  Pacific  coast, and  the  earnest  pop- 
ular demand  for  the  absolute  exclusion  of  Chinese  laborers It  is  ad- 
mitted to  be  a  paramount  right  and  duty  of  every  government  to  exclude 
from  its  borders  all  elements  of  foreign  pojDulation  which,  for  any  reason, 
retard  its  i^rosi^erity,  or  are  detrimental  to  the  moral  and  i^hysical  health 
of  its  peoi^le. " 

[Because  such  foreign  element  is  masonic  and  thus  consjm'es  in  the 
dark  with  the  native  masonic  element,  and  by  "unpunished  and  indorsed 
false  jjre  tenses  "  and  "perjury"  prostitute  and  debauch  the  courts  and 
"authorities"  for  their  protection  against  the  law  and  the  people,  is  no 
good  reason  that  the  people  should  not  enforce  the  law  and  jH-otect 
themselves  against  the  gang.] 

■X-  * 

* 

"  The  headquarters  of  Commander-in-chief  [chief  mason]  are  in  the 
Judge's  chambers." 

"  Military  Headquarters.''^ 
' '  Any  i:)erson  violating  the  provisions  of  any  law  of  the  United  States 
or  Washington  Territory,  or  the  ordinances  of  the  city  in  force  at  the  time 
of  the  proclamation  of  martial  law  heretofore  made  [the  Chinese  and 
other  brethren  excepted]  wiU  be  promptly  arrested  and  summarily  dealt 
with.     By  order  of  the  [chief  mason] . " 


"Martial  law,"  says  Blackstone,  "  is  in  effect  no  law  at  all." 
"Martial  law,"  says  Judge  Nelson,  "is  neither  more  nor  less  than  the 
will  of  the  General  who  commands  the  army.  It  overrides  and  suppresses 
aU  existing  civil  laws,  ci\dl  officers  and  ci^-il  authorities,  by  the  arbitrary 
exercise  of  mihtary  j^ower,  and  every  citizen  or  subject  (in  other  words 
the  entire  population  of  the  country  within  the  confines  of  its  jjower)  is 


Martial  Law  on  Puget  Sound.  537 

subject  to  the  mere  will  or  caprice  of  the  commander.      He  holds  the 
hves,  Uberty  and  property  of  all  in  the  palm  of  his  hand." 

[  Unmeas  arable  Gall.  ] 

' '  No  passes  shall  be  issued  to  any  one  to  appear  on  the  streets 
after  night,  except  siich  persons  as  have  duties  which  absolutely  re- 
quire such  passes  ;  then  only  when  it  is  made  to  appear  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  Provost  Marshal  that  the  person  apj)lying  has  been  a 
peaceable,  law-abiding  citizen,  who  has  endeavored  to  ujihold  the  law  [?] 
within  the  last  ten  days.  All  passes  shall  be  registered  in  a  book  kept  for  that 
purpose,  and  the  person  receiving  the  same  shall  enroll  his  name  in 
said  book.  Said  pass  shall  specify  the  hours  within  which  it  is  good. 
All  permits  to  keep  ojaen  any  jolaces  of  business  must  be  recorded  in 
the  Provost  Marshal's  office.     By  order  of  the  [chief  mason]," 

* 
["Treason  doth  never  prosper. 
What's  the  reason  ? 
Why  if  it  prosper,  none  dare  call  it  treason. "] 


"It  was  learned  yesterday  morning  that  the  President  had  not  yet 
ordered  troops  to  Seattle,  although  urgently  requested  to  do  so  by  [the 
chief  mason].  This  fact  was  laid  before  prominent  [masons]  of  the  town, 
most  of  whom  joined  in  earnest  reqiiests  to  [masonic]  Senators  to  urge 
Tipon  the  President  the  necessity  for  speedy  action  in  this  matter.  Tele- 
grams were  received  from  Vancouver  that  the  troops  were  in  readiness 
to  start  at  a  moment's  notice.  A  train  is  in  waiting,  so  as  to  bring  them 
through  in  short  order. " 


"Charles  G.  Stewart  [shot  by  the  masons]  died  from  the  effects  of  his 
wounds  at  three  o'clock  Tuesday  morning." 

[He  had  sworn]  that  "this  [mason]  raised  his  gun  and  struck  me 
across  the  head,  and  at  the  same  time  a  bullet  struck  me  on  the  arm,  and 
I  fell  from  the  effects  of  the  blow  on  my  head  and  the  wound  on  the  arm. 
Some  man  then  shot  me  in  the  body  when  I  was  down." 

"The  three  others  [that  were  dangerously  wounded]  are  doing  as 
well  as  can  be  expected,  but  cannot  tell  the  resiilt  until  the  fourth  day." 

[The  murderers  were  being  shielded  and  sanctioned  by  the  gang  ^Wth 
the  powers  of  our  Government,  and]  ' '  The  authorities  [in  fear  of  their 
lives  for  their  conduct]  have  seized  all  the  fire-arms  offered  for  sale  in 
the  city,  and  given  strict  orders  that  no  dealer  in  ammunition  dispose  of 
any,  except  upon  an  order  from  [the  Masonic]  'authorities.'  " 


538  Martial  Law  on  Puget  Sound. 

"No  theater  or  place  of  amusement  has  been  oi^ened  to  the  public 
since  martial  law  Avas  declared. " 

*  * 

•X- 

"The  comijaratively  few  Chinamen  in  town  are  waiting  anxiously  for 
the  day  to  arrive  when  they  can  leave  Seattle.  Nine-tenths  of  those  now 
here  will  go  below  on  the  'Elder,'  if  nothing  unforeseen  happens  to  prevent 
their  departure." 

* 
"A  request  by  the  citizens  for  return  to  civil  law.^' 

"Whereas,  it  is  of  the  gi-eatest  imi^ortance  that  the  civil  authorities 
resume  their  sway. 

We,  the  undersigned,  on  behalf  of  a  large  number  of  citizens,  respect- 
fully request  your  Excellency  to  place  our  city  under  the  control  of  the 
civil  authorities,  in  order  that  the  peace  of  the  city  may  be  maintained 
and  that  business  may  resume  the  even  tenor  of  its  way,  and  the  civil 
authorities  be  empowered  to  serve  and  execute  all  processes  of  laic,  civil  or 
criminal,  without  fear  or  favor.  We,  therefore,  represent  that  the  great 
majority  of  our  citizens  are  in  favor  of  the  re-ins tatement  of  the  civil 
authorities,  and  are  determined  to  supi^ort  and  respect  the  laws." 

[But  this  was  spurned  by  the  favored  and  curled  darlings,  and]  '  'The 
mercenary  greed  of  parties  who  were  trading  in  Chinese  labor,  and  by 
fraud,  false  pretenses  and  perjury,  was  too  strong  for  the  law." 

And  I  quote:  "Those  officials  who  have  been  bribed  and  bulldozed 
into  letting  the  leprous  heathens  land  in  San  Francisco  and  other  jDlaces, 
have  already  made  fortunes,  and  like  the  Chinese  'they  must  go.'" 

[But  they  would  go.] — "Between  boats  and  trains  fully  150  Chinamen 
have  gone  from  Seattle  during  the  past  three  days,  not  to  return.  They 
have  been  working  busily  to  get  off,  and  those  who  can  go  seem  eager  and 
happy  enough  to  go.  Many  white  persons  went  among  them  seeing  them 
pack,  and  here  and  there  buying  a  curio.  Scenes  of  this  kind,  though 
cemmon  in  Europe,  have  been  few  and  far  between  in  America." 

* 
"The  gatherings  upon  the  street  comers  yesterday  were  smaller  than 
the  days  before,  and  the  utterances  less  violent  and  revolutionary  [against 
the  gang] .  There  are  still  a  few  men  and  women  who  talk  about  hanging 
this  [murderer]  and  that  [murderer] ,  but  steps  have  been  taken  to  arrest 
and  severely  punish  such  offenders  against  the  [Masons]  and  it  -will  soon 
be  stopped.     Yesterday  a  number  of  arrests  were  made." 

"Members  of  the  local  mihtary  companies  who  refused  'duty'  and 
who  are  charged  with  '  treasonable  utterances, '  have  been  arrested,  and 
will  be  court-martialed." 

["Truth  forever  on  the  scaffold, 
Wrong  forever  on  the  throne."] 


Martial  Law  on  Puget  Sound.  539 

"All  '  disorderly  '  persons,  or  persons  wandering  about  and  ba^^ng  no 
visible  calling  or  business  to  maintain  themselves,  and  generally  all 
vagrants,  [baving  been  despoiled  by  the  gang] ,  are  requested  to  leave  the 
city  of  Seattle  forthwith. 

All  such  persons  found  in  this  city  after  this  date  will  be  arrested  and 
summarily  dealt  with.  All  persons  uttering  treasonable  or  seditious  lan- 
guage [members  of  the  gang  excejated],  or  who  are  guilty  of  i^ubHcly 
using  words  or  actions  tending  to  distui-b  the  -peace  or  in  contempt  of  the 
[Masonic]  constituted  authorities,  will  be  promptly  arrested. 

The  Provost  Marshal  and  other  officers  and  [Masonic]  persons,  autiio- 
rized  to  make  arrests,  are  especially  charged  with  the  prompt  execution  of 
this  order." 

Signed,  [Noble-Grand-High-Chief -Mason.  ] 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Court  Maetiaii  and  a  MniiTAKY  Commission. —  With  a  Judge  Advocate 
and  Recorder  now  under  eight  indictments  for  forgery  and  robbery. 
—  With  other  big  criminals  in  comm,and. — Crime  made  respectable 
and  to  TELL  THE  TKtiTH  IS  made  a  crime. 

"February  10th,  1886. 

J\  GENEEAL  court  martial  is  hereby  convened  to  meet  at  these  head- 
quarters at  1  o'clock  this  afternoon  for  the  trial  of  all  ofifenders  [against 
the  masons]  who  may  be  brought  before  it. 

General   [Mason]    [who  is  now  under  eight  indictments  for  forgery  and 
robbery^  is  hereby  detained  as  Judge  Advocate  of  the  Court. " 

["  Put  into  every  honest  hand  a  whip  to  lash  the  rascals  naked  through 
the  world."] 

* 

\No  wonder.'\     "A  feeling  of  relief  pervaded  the  whole  community 
when  it  was  learned  that  troops  had  been  ordered  to  Seattle." 


"Immediately  after  the  shooting  February  8th,  a  warrant  was  sworn 
out  against  [the  masons  who  did  the  shooting]  charging  them  with  mur- 
der. The  warrant  has  never  been  served.  However,  three  of  them  have 
since  presented  themselves  at  court,  waived  examination,  and  were  re- 
leased on  $5,000  bail  each." 

"  An  autlientic  account. — ^W. .  pulled  Stewart  roughly  toward  him,  and 
C . .  grabbed  Stewart  by  the  throat.  With  this  W . .  released  his  hold, 
clubbed  his  Winchester  and  dealt  Stewart  a  blow  on  the  head  that  felled 
him  to  the  ground.  As  he  lay  upon  the  ground  B . .  and  B . .  fired  their 
rifles  into  his  prostrate  body,  inflicting  the  death  wounds.  They  then 
raised  their  guns,  and  together  with  C . .  and  H . .  emptied  them  into  the 
defenseless  and  inofifensive  crowd,  seriously  wounding  four  other  citizens." 

[What  kind  of  justice  is  it  that  indorses  and  tiu'ns  such  cases  loose, 
and  hangs  others  for  less  crime  ? 

And  they  and  their  accessories  say  :     "  We  have  a  good  judiciary."] 


"  When  the  soldiers  (300)  arrived,  a  man  who  was  in  the  crowd  on  the 
Ocean  Dock  pointed  to  the  '  home  guards, '  who  were  *  on  duty  '  near  by, 
and  shouted  to  the  soldiers,  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  the  vast  concourse 
of  people  :  '  There  is  a  murderer  in  that  crowd  !  There  is  a  murderer  in 
that  crowd  !  !     There  is  a  murderer  in  that  crowd  !  !  ! ' 

Then  addressing  himself  to  the  masses,  exclaimed  :  '  Thank  God  ! 
we  are  out  from  under  the  control  of  the  murderers  ! ' 

(540) 


A  Tykant  in  Command.  541 

He  was  arrested  and  placed  in  jail "  [for  thus  expressing  the  senti- 
ments of  the  people  and  of  his  own  heart,  and  evidently  the  truth  ;  thus  is 
justice  murdered. 

Murder,  like  treason,  when  it  prosjaers,  it  is  made  resjjectable,  and 
called  virtue,  and  it  is  made  a  crime  to  call  it  murder. 

It  is  the  weakest,  not  the  woi'st,  that  goes  to  the  waU.] 

* 

"A  clerk  of  the  Probate  court  was  arrested  for  uttering  loud  an>l 
'  treasonable  '  language  on  the  streets.'  " 

"  Mr.  McMillan  was  arrested  for  'treasonable'  utterances,  and  jiut  in 
jail.     He  has  often  said  that  he  would  willingly  serve  a  sentence  in  the 
penitentiary  if  it  would  aid  in  ridding  Seattle  of  the  Chinese." 
'^Military  Headquarters." 

"Special  order  heretofore  issued,  relating  to  the  appointment  of  the 
court  martial  is  set  aside,  and  the  following  officers  are  appointed  a  Mili- 
tary Commission  to  inquire  into  all  matters  that  may  be  brought  before 
them  :  Captain  [Mason]  [now  under  $10,000  bail,  he  being  indicted  as 
one  of  the  gang  of  smugglers  that  has  been  operating  for  many  years  (they 
being  winked  at  by  masonic  officials)  and  also  for  steaHng.  ] 

General  [Mason]  is  hereby  detained  as  Judge  Advocate  and  Re- 
corder." [This  gentleman  being  now  under  eight  indictments  for  forgery 
and  robbery  of  over  $60,000. 

Such  gentry  are  the  ones  who  have  so  much  secret  influence  with 
blackleg  Governors  and  courts  against  honest  citizens.  ] 


"  C.  H.  M.,  a  plasterer,  one  of  the  leading  agitators,  was  arrested 
and  placed  in  jail."     [He  is  now  attorney  general.] 

"By  order  of  the  Provost  Marshal,  PoHce  Officer  Murphy  was  re- 
lieved from  duty  [and  then  arrested  and  imprisoned]  on  account  of  his 
alleged  comi^licity  with  the  expulsion  of  the  Chinese." 

[I  give  a  few  examj^les  only  of  the  tyranny  and  brutaHty  of  the  gang. 
Murj)hy  was  made  Mayor  of  the  city  the  following  election,  and  the  whole 
administration  of  the  city  and  county  was  placed  .in  the  hands  of  the 
agitators  and  "  Mob  " — with  which  was  inaugurated  and  maintained  a 
season  of  peaceful  prosperity  unknoivn  before. 

The  people  had  no  use  for  dogfish  and  blackleg  despots,  for  mihtia, 
or  for  United  States  troops.     For  the  jDcople  ruled,  and  the  laws  were  then 

more  evenly  enforced.  ] 

*  * 

"  Fourteen  Chinamen  who  were  induced  to  leave  the  Puyallup  VaUey 
passed  by  here  on  their  way  to  Port  Townsend  yesterday  morning,  and  one 
Chinaman  came  down  from  Olympia  bound  for  Victoria.     He  says  all  the 


542  A  Tykant  in  Command. 


Chinameu  "will  leave  Olympia  if  the  money  can  be  raised  to  pay  their  pas- 
sage," [but  they  were  induced  to  remain  by  the  white  brethren.] 


"Yesterday  morning  we  published  the  fact  that  the  miners  had  gone 
over  from  Black  Diamond  and  Frankhn  to  Carbonado  to  drive  the  Chinese 
out.  Ou  arrival  there,  the  miners  assisted  the  Chinamen,  fifty-six  in  num- 
ber, on  board  the  train.  They  were  brought  to  Tacoma,  where  they 
boarded  the  steamer  for  Port  Townsend.  While  at  Seattle  the  Avriter 
boarded  the  steamer  and  found  one  member  of  the  [masonic]  band  who 
could  talk  good  English.  He  said  the  Chinamen  were  paid  off  Wednes- 
day. Thursday  morning  a  big  crowd  of  miners,  two  or  three  hundred, 
came,  and  the  spokesman  said  : 

"  China  boys,  we  want  you  all  to  leave  this  cami^."  I  said  to  him, 
"  You  bet  your  life  we  want  to  go.  As  so  many  miners  wanted  us  to  leave, 
we  concluded  to  go.     I  think  we  will  go  to  China." 

[The  jjeople  were  simply  enforcing  the  laws  that  their  masonic  j^er- 
jured  agents  had  refused  to  do  and  had  overridden — they  owing  their  first 
allegiance  to  their  masonic  government  and  brethren  in  the  dark,  who 
were  thus  too  strong  for  the  law. 

A  single  masonic-ridden  court  smuggled  about  10,000  Chinamen  into 
the  country — using  the  "court  "  as  a  blind.] 

*  * 

* 

"  Captain  (now  Colonel)  [Mason]  was  one  of  the  first  persons  to  report 
to  the  Sheriff  for  duty  when  it  was  learned  that  the  *  law  was  being  vio- 
lated ! '  He  was  api3ointed  to  take  charge  of  the  provost  guard,  which 
was  equivalent  to  an  appointment  as  military  chief  of  poHce," 

[When  at  the  very  time,  according  to  recent  indictments,  he  was  in  a 
"great  conspiracy"  with  his  secret  gang  against  the  Government  and  its 
laws. 

And  he  was,  and  is,  also  '  the  leading  member  of  the  bar '  [court 
gang]  in  the  Territory,  and  talked  of  by  ring  papers  as  bound  for  Con- 
gi-ess. 

If  this  blistering  wrong  and  secret  power  was  not  on  the  throne,  so  as 
to  make  itself  resjjectable,  a  despot,  tyrant,  and  assassin  with  impunity, 
and  make  it  a  crime  to  tell  the  truth  and  expose  the  cancer  I,  with  my  ex- 
perience and  information,  could  give  dozens  of  such  examples.  ' '  Tremble, 
thou  wretch,  thou  hast  within  thee  undivulged  crimes  unwhipp'd  of 
justice."] 

* 

^^  Further  arrests  were  made  for  'seditious  language'  which,  with 
others  under  arrest,  will  be  tried  [?]  by  the  military  commission  as  soon  as 
charges  can  be  formulated  against  them.  The  commission  will  sit  without 
regard  to  hours.     The  proceedings  will  be  private." 


A  Tyrant  in  Comhiand.  543 

'^Leaving  town. — A  large  number  of  the  non-producing  classes  [ma- 
sons, etc.,  excepted]  have  left  Seattle  since  martial  law  was  declared." 
[They  were  driven  out  in  violatioii  of  law  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.'\ 

"Sixth  Day  of  MAUTiAii  Law." 

"The  existence  of  martial  law  has  completely  prostrated  business. 
All  branches  of  business  are  suffering,  excej^t  the  hotels  and  restaiirants. 
Travel  is  very  light,  and  but  few  peojjle  are  coming  into  town,  while  a 
great  many  are  driven  out." 

*  * 

"  Rejjorts  reached  the  ears  of  the  '  axithorities  '  that  the  agitators  were 
holding  secret  meetings  in  the  suburbs,  and  the  [masonic]  '  home  guards  ' 
were  called  together  and  sent  out  to  do  skirmish  duty  last  night." 

[But  the  white  and  Chinese  Masons  &  Co.  can  hold  their  secret  meet- 
ings with  brazen  impunity. 

The  martial  law-masonic-despotism  was  ground  into  the  people  for 
about  fifteen  days,  but  yet,  even  this  did  not  goad  the  people  into  a  con- 
flict, so  determined  were  they  to  maintain  the  peace  as  was  the  case  before. 

The  United  States  troops  remained  for  several  months.  The  object 
of  which  will  ajjpear  in  the  succeeding  chapter.] 


'-"  OF  THE 

O'NIVERSIT^ 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

Expense  to  the  People  and  where  the  Money  goes. — One  Masok 
GETS  $100  PEK  Day. — Why  the  Chinese  were  inflijenced  to  stay. 
— So-CAiiLED  "White  Chinamen"  in  Danger  of  being  dbiten  out, 

LIKE    they     had    driven   OTHER    NON-PRODUCING    AND   DIS-BEPUTABLE 

White  Citizens. — The  Judgment  of  the  people  and  the  Supreme  Court, — 
The  martial  law  "Mere  LAwiiESS  Violence." — Bid  ''the  trail  of  the 
Serpent  is  over  them  all." — (What  belongs  "between  the  lines.") 

It  is  our  oijiuion,  and  the  opinion  of  every  one  with  whom  we  have 
talked,  that  it  is  not  the  party  that  is  trying  to  get  rid  of  the  Chinese 
[Masonic]  nuisance,  that  is  to  blame  for  the  bloodshed  in  Seattle  and  the 
arrest  of  certain  parties  inOlympia,  but  the  party  that  assuynes  to  'enforce 
the  law. ' 

Is  it  not  a  fact  that  the  Chinese  both  in  Seattle  and  Olympia,  signified 
a  wilHngness  to  go  ? 

If  the  self-styled,  law-abiding  citizens  had  attended  to  their  own  busi- 
ness, as  they  did  in  Tacoma,  there  would  have  been  no  bloodshed  in 
Seattle,  no  citizens  incarcerated  on  McNeil's  Island,  and  the  cities  of 
Seattle  and  Olymjiia  would  have  been  relieved  of  an  intolerable  nuisance 
without  any  trouble  on  their  part,  and  without  the  assistance  of  the  U.  S. 
soldiers. 

Does  not  every  one  admit  that  the  Chinese  are  a  miisance  ? 

Then  why  tolerate  them  ?  Have  we,  of  this  coast,  no  rights  that  the 
National  Government  is  bound  to  respect  ?  Are  we  obhged  to  submit  to 
the  curse  of  Mongolian  depravity  for  an  indefinite  number  of  years,  be- 
cause of  an  '  error '  committed  by  our  reioresentatives  ?  We  are  ready  to 
admit  that  the  proj^er  method  of  iDroceeding  would  be  by  legislation,  but 
what  can  we  hope  for  in  that  direction  ?  Have  not  the  peojDle  of  this  coast 
been  complaining  for  years  of  the  oppression  of  the  laboring  element,  in 
consequence  of  these  foreign  barnacles  ?  Has  Congi-ess  ever  done  anything 
to  really  remedy  the  evil  ?  No,  and  they  never  will  until  the  people,  the 
rightful  rulers  of  this  Government,  rise  in  their  might  and  say,  '  you  shall 
remove  this  nuisance  from  our  midst,  or  we  will  make  it  uncomfortably 
warm  for  them.'  [This  was  jjroven  tnie.]  But  some  one  says,  'that 
would  be  a  ■violation  of  law. '  The  tea  riot  in  Boston,  in  1773,  was  a  viola- 
tion of  law,  and  yet  it  was  an  indispensable  link  in  the  chain  of  causes, 
which  led  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  those  who  fought  the 
battle  of  Lexington  on  the  American  side  might  have  been  prosecuted 
under  the  riot  act,  and  yet  the  beneficial  results  of  that  battle  and  those 
that  followed  are  highly  apjDreciated  by  the  American  people  to-day.  It 
is  sometimes  necessary  for  the  people  to  assert  their  rights  in  a  striking 
manner,  and  I  think  this  is  one  of  the  times.  J.  J.  C." 

(544) 


The  Judgment  of  the  People.  545 

"Kei^orts  have  it  that  a  number  of  citizens  ['White  Chinamen,']  who 
have  made  themselves  obnoxious  to  the  anti-Chinese  people,  have  been 
ordered  out  of  Tacoma.  Their  going  is  more  than  doubtful,  but  the  threat 
is  disagreeable  all  the  same.  Lilie  talk  has  been  heard  in  Seattle,  and  its 
heeding  is  more  doubtful  here  than  in  Tacoma." 

[Are  not  these  "white  Masonic  Chinamen"  "non-producers,"  who 
live  by  despoihng  and  fatten  on  turmoil  and  the  misery  of  others  ?  Are 
not  the  cream  of  them  robbers  and  thieves  ?  And  at  least "  objectionable  " 
to  the  people  ?  Then  why  should  they  not  be  driven  out,  like  other  para- 
sites and  vermin  ?] 

*  * 

* 

"  Wilkeson  citizens  meet.     Discuss  the  questions  of  the  day  and 

Resolve,  that  we  sympathize  fully  with  the  resolutions  expressed  by  the 
Seattle  anti-Chinese  convention. 

Resolved,  that  we  dej^lore  all  violence  and  think  it  was  a  needless  pre- 
caution on  the  part  of  the  Governor  to  exact  that  deputy  sheriffs  should  be 
ajjpointed  or  he  would  cause  troops  to  be  brought  into  the  country,  and 
to  spread  abroad  that  we  are  a  lawless  peojjle. 

Resolved,  that  we  heartily  endorse  the  action  taken  by  Mayor  Weisbach 
and  his  co-laborers  and  the  press  of  Tacoma,  in  the  manly  and  straight- 
forward manner  they  have  pursued  in  ridding  the  country  of  the  scourge 
of  serf  labor." 


"^  gafhering  of  the  people  of  South  Prairie."  Were  unanimous  that 
the  Chinese  must  go,  and  without  a  dissenting  vote 

'^Resolved,  that  we  heartily  endorse  the  sentiments  expressed  in  the  re- 
solutions passed  by  the  Convention  at  Seattle. 

Resolved,  that  we  regard  the  situation  of  laboring  people  as  one  of  im- 
minent danger,  thereby  necessitating  active  measures  to  protect  them  from 
a  poverty  which  must  follow  in  the  f ootstejis  of  tliis  Tartaric  serfdom. 

Resolved,  that  we  most  emphatically  denounce  the  action  of  Governor 
[Mason]  in  needlessly  causing  the  apjjointment  of  dejjuty  sheriffs,  thereby 
publishing  abroad  that  we  are  a  lawless  people,  not  capable  of  maintaining 
peace." 

* 

"Several  days  before  the  meeting  of  the  chamber  of  commerce  at 
Tacoma  it  was  understood  that  a  i^etition  would  be  i^assed,  to  the  Presi- 
dent, for  the  removal  of  Governor  [Mason] ,  for,  what  has  almost  unani- 
mously been  pronounced,  an  unnecessary  and  officious  intermeddHng  with 
local  affairs  in  Tacoma.  But  this  flattened  out  under  the  skillful  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  [Mason] . 

Governor  [Mason] ,  "wdth  his  breath  like  the  steaming  exhalation  of  a 
bowl  of  hot  rum  punch,  was  then  judiciously  steered  into  the  newspaper 
offices  to  'explain.'     [He  wanted  a  hearing.] 
35 


5-1:6  The  Judgment  of  the  People. 

On  Tuesday  night  lie  explained  again  in  the  Ledger  office,  bnt  the 
more  he  explained  the  more  ajjparent  it  became  that  he  had  imposed  ujion 
Sheriff  Byrd  the  alternative  of  troops  or  deputy  sheriffs, 

[And  so  the  Sheriff  of  Tacoma  made  deputies  of  the  anti-Chinese 
agitators  themselves,  instead  of  the  "White  Chinamen,"  and  there  tvas  no 
riot,  no  conflict,  no  rebellion  and  no  murder,  such  as  there  was  at  Seattle.] 

Governor  [Mason]  is  still  as  desei-ving  of  condemnation  for  his  con- 
duct, as  he  was  before  he  began  to  "wag  his  tongue  and  punish  whiskey  at 
Tacoma  last  Tuesday  night. " 

* 

"A  petition  is  to  be  circulated  immediately,  asking  President  Cleve- 
land to  remove  Governor  [Mason].  Had  he  been  removed  long  since,  it 
would  have  saved  our  territory  from  a  disgrace  and  ignomy  which  "nill 
requii-e  years  to  wipe  out.  Before  a  drop  of  blood  was  shed,  simply  be- 
cause an  oppressed  [half  housed  and  half  mortgaged]  peojsle  gave  the 
[Masonic]  coolies  the  ticket  of  leave,  he  hastily  telegraphs  the  President, 
demanding  the  protection  of  Government  troops  and  a  jjroclamation  at 
once.  The  proclamation  was  issued,  commanding  the  '  outlaws '  and 
'mob  '  to  disj)erse,  and  it  was  jninted  in  every  j^aper  in  the  land,  nearly. 
[Mason]  exaggerated  the  trouble  beyond  a  doubt,  and  his  injudicious  haste 
and  anxiety  in  telegraphing  the  President  was  doubtless  caused  by  a  desire 
to  curry  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  present  administration.  The  danger  of 
giving  out  to  the  world  the  false  impression  that  we  are  an  ignorant,  un- 
lawful and  riotous  people,  and  probability  of  hurting  our  chances  for  ad- 
mission and  self  government,  did  not  curb  the  Governor's  anxiety  for 
notoriety.  Therefore,  let  him  be  relegated  to  the  obscurity  and  oblivion 
into  which  he  woiild  j^lace  our  peoi^le.  Men  and  even  women  have  been 
an-ested  on  the  charge  of  inciting  riot.  They  have  agitated  the  Chinese 
question  and  advocated  the  policy  of  boycotting  the  aliens,  for  which  they 
were  arrested  on  the  above  charge." 

*  * 

* 

"  In  an  interview  "wdth  a  merchant  of  Seattle  it  was  ascertained  that 
much  of  the  trouble  in  that  jjlace  arises  from  the  fact  that  two  i^rominent 
officials  and  others  are  financially  interested  in  keeping  the  Chinese  from 
leaving.  It  is  alleged  that  Governor  [Mason]  holds  large  landed  interests 
in  and  about  Seattle  which  he  has  leased  almost  exclusively  to  Chinamen 
for  years,  and  that  it  is  to  his  financial  benefit  to  exercise  his  power  and  in- 
fluence to  keep  his  tenants  from  going  away. 

It  IS  positively  stated  that  were  it  not  for  the  parties  named,  the 
Chinese  would  be  quite  willing  to  leave  the  j^lace,  as  they  are  boycotted  on 
every  side,  and  law-abiding  citizens  would  aid  in  their  departure." 


"  The  order  calling  the  troops  away  from  Seattle  has  been  rescinded  on 
the  information  furnished  the  Government  that  it  was  the  calculation  to 


The  Judgment  of  the  People.  547 

introduce  into  the  city,  upon  the  -withdrawal  of  the  soldiers,  600  armed 
men  to  take  possession,  and  expel  the  remaining  Chinamen  and  the  disre- 
putable citizens  ('  white  Chinamen  ')  who  took  a  j)rominent  part  [against 
the  people.]" 

* 

"When  Seattle  endeavored  to  remove  the  Chinese  incubus,  some 
'  very  loyal '  oflBcers  of  the  Government  saw  an  opportimity  to  give  then* 
abihties  an  airing.  When  bloodshed  ensued  the  boomers  of  Seattle  saw 
an  opportunity  for  a  big  '  whii-1 '  in  calling  for  trooi^s.  Governor  [Mason] 
gave  it  the  impetus  of  official  momentum  by  a  declaration  of  martial  law, 
which  made  a  perfect  '  whirl '  of  dollars  around  the  voi-tex  of  his  pocket. " 

"If  the  party  coui-ts  defeat,  it  will  nominate  Governor  [Mason]  for* 
delegate.  He  of  all  others  would  be  most  weighted  down  by  the  hot- 
headed acts  of  last  February.  He  loas  the  tool  of  a  ring  of  speculative  poli.. 
iicians,  who  by  their  tumiiltuous  jDroceedings  have  brought  a  taint  upon 
the  whole  Territory.  The  people  have  grown  tired  of  dictation,  and  would 
desire  no  better  oiaportunity  than  to  slaughter  oiu*  redoubtable  BombasteS 
Fuiioso  at  the  polls.  The  crank  for  tiu-ning  on  the  martial  law  alarm  is 
not  the  lever  for  good  work.  The  man  who  has  achieved  distinction  solely 
on  account  of  wealth,  is  not  the  one  in  whom  the  laborer  would  place  his 
trust.  The  foj)  can  have  nothing  in  his  composition,  natural  or  acquired 
that  can  compensate  for  the  hole  on  one  side  of  his  brain.  He  whose 
physical  energy  must  be  constantly  braced  up  by  hot  cushions,  and  whose 
spiritual  nature  is  so  refined  that  he  cannot  eat  off  dishes  used  by  others, 
should  not  be  allowed  to  wander  far  from  home.  He  belongs  to  the  kid- 
glove  gently,  and  he  figures  more  as  a  dude  than  a  statesman." 


"It  is  said  that  the  only  persons  who  have  made  anything  out  of 
the  martial  law  at  Seattle  have  been  the  landlords  who  have  rented 
quarters  for  the  soldiers  at  '49  prices." 

"The  Salem  T'a/A;  suggests  that  Governor  [Mason]  be  sent  to  Utah 
to  settle  the  Mormon  difficulty.  He  can  have  a  few  unoffending  citizens 
shot  down  and  then  'stand  in'  with  the  ['good']  judiciary  and  pro- 
claim martial  law  to  protect  them  from  retaliatory  measui'es.  This 
prompt  and  patriotic  course  would  strike  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the 
rabble  and  at  once  restore  harmony." 

"The  Talk  is  e\ddently  sarcastic  in  the  recommendation,  and  our 
Governor  -^vill  readily  see  there  is  no  money  in  it,  unless  he  first  ob- 
tain the  control  of  a  few  shacks  in  Mormonland  to  hire  to  the  Gov- 
ernment for  barracks  at  rates  which  would  be  considered  a  fair  rental 
for  the  Palmer  House  in  Chicago." 


"King  county  presents  her  httle  bill  of  ^4,000  to  the  Government 
for   expenses  incurred   in  the  late  disturbances.      This,  we  presume,  is 


548  The  Judgment  of  the  People. 

for  the  '  relief '  of  the  smaller  fishes  which  did  not  get  their  fins  in  at 
the  rate  of  $100  per  day,  like  the  big  whale — Govei'tior  [3/aso«]. 

Everything  is  fish  that  came  in  [the  gangs]  net.  When  it  fails  to 
press  each  good  thing  as  it  turns  up,  it  will  be  when  its  toes  are  in 
the  air." 

* 
"  Tacoma,  Washington  Territory,  August  18th,  1886. 

The  following  additional  resolutions  were  adopted  unanimously  : 

Whereas,  W.  C.  [Mason],  Governor  of  Washington  Territory,  on  the 
8th  day  of  February,  in  the  city  of  Seattle,  in  violation  of  his  oath  of 
office  and  the  laws  of  the  land  and  in  contravention  of  the  Hberties  of 
free  men  guaranteed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  did  pro- 
claim martial  law  and  susjieud  the  wiit  of  habeas  coiyus,  and  did  unlaw- 
fully and  wrongfully  arrest  and  imprison  citizens  without  any  charge  or 
crime  against  them  ;  therefore  be  it 

"  Resolved,  By  the  democracy  of  Washington  Territory  in  convention 
assembled  : 

"First,  That  said  W.  C.  Mason  has  by  his  conduct  brought  disgrace 
and  contempt  on  the  official  position  held  by  him. 

"  Second,  That  the  President  is  earnestly  requested  by  this  convention 
to  remove  said  Governor  from  his  official  position." 


"  The  people' s  party  co?i?7e?i^WH  adopted  the  following  resolutions  unani- 
mously : 

"  WJiereas,  The  action  of  Governor  [Mason]  in  susi)ending  the  writ  of 
habeas  corptis  and  declaring  martial  law,  and  coercing  with  federal  troops 
our  sister  city  Seattle  in  time  of  jieace,  when  the  civil  authorities  were 
fully  able  and  competent  to  preserve  the  same,  was  an  act  of  usuri^ation  of 
power  only  jDaralleled  by  the  autocrat  of  Kussia. 

"  The  outrage  on  the  people's  rights  and  Hberties  was  an  act  of  usur- 
pation without  parallel  in  our  history — such  as  causes  great  commotion 
d,nd  alarm  among  our  people  and  calls  for  the  severest  condemnation. 
Therefore  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  our  jjeople  have  no  confidence  in  W.  C.  [Mason]  as 
Govei'uor  of  this  Territory,  and  severely  condemn  his  actions  as  executive, 
and  ask  all  people  to  unite  in  prayers  for  the  removal  of  this  unworthy 
servant." 


"  The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  has  rendered  an  important 
decision  aff'ecting  the  question  of  the  jjowers  of  the  Federal  Government 
in  prosecuting  individuals  engaged  in  molesting  or  driving  out  Chinese 
residents  within  any  of  the  States.  The  case  was  that  of  Baldwin  and 
others  charged  with  driving  the  Chinese  out  of  Nicalaus,  California,  "n^thin 
the  last  year. 


The  Judgment  of  the  People.  549 

The  court  holds,  re-affirming  United  States  vs.  Harris,  106  United 
States  reports,  page  629,  that  the  Federal  Government  has  no  jurisdiction 
under  the  present  state  of  law,  and  that  the  matter  rests  entirely  with  the 
local  State  courts,  and  thai  section  5, -5 19  Ke vised  Statutes  United  States,  is 
unconstitutional,  in  whole  and  in  part,  reverses  the  judgment  of  the  Cir- 
cuit court  of  the  United  States  for  California  and  remand  the  case  for 
further  proceedings.     This  must  ensure  the  discharge  of  the  defendants." 

"  This  case  was  reviewed  in  connection  with  our  Chinese  conspu-acy 
cases  by  a  corresjDondent  {'Skeptic').  It  was'  there  shown  that  our  citi- 
zens had  been  indicted,  tried  and  convicted  under  this  same  section  (5,519 
R.  S.)  declared  unconstitutional  by  the  Supreme  court,  but  notwithstanding 
that,  Judges  Sawyer,  Greene  and  Hoyt  held  it  consiitittional. 

"Meantime  our  '  (Olympia)  conspirators,'  so-called,  have  served  out 
their  sentence,  and  the  Seattle  and  Tacoma  jiarties,  so  charged,  have  been 
acquitted  by  juries  of  their  peers,  after  the  most  sti'enuous  efforts  on  the 
part  of  the  Government  to  convict." 

["  Where  God  hath  a  temple,  the  masonic  devil  will  have  a  secret 
chapel. "] 

"I  desire  to  enter  my  i^rotest  and  arouse  public  indignation  against  the 
greatest  outrage  on  individual  liberty  and  the  constitution  and  laws  that 
has  occurred  in  the  unfortunate  Chinese  agitation  at  Seattle.  I  refer  to 
the  Governor's  infamous  conduct  in  suspending  the  operation  of  the  writ 
of  habeas  corpus  and  establishing  martial  law  in  Seattle,  and  to  subject  its 
people  to  all  the  horrors  of  an  irresiaonsible  miUtary  despotism — to  allow 
them  to  be  imprisoned  without  lawful  warrant  and  convicted  Avithout  a 
jury  trial. 

Here  is  the  Governor  of  [masonic-ridden]  Washington  Territory 
arrogating  to  himself  powers  beyond  those  of  the  President,  and  which  Con- 
gress can  exercise  only  '  ichenin  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  pubhc  safety 
may  require  it.'  (Constitution  U.  S.,  Ai-ticle  1,  Section  9,  and  amendments 
5  and  6.) 

To  prevent  gi'eat  inconvenience  and  wTong  to  individuals,  the  iJubHc 
condemnation  should  be  uttered  with  no  uncertain  sound. 

[So  it  should  be  as  to  innocent  victims  languishing  in  prison  that  the 
brutal  tyrants  spurn.] 

It  is  bad  enough  that  we  should  have  a  Governor  who,  by  constant 
appeals  to  the  general  government  for  aid  [for  his  brethi-en]  admits  that 
we  are  not  capable  of  administering  our  own  affairs,  but  when  his  timidity 
promjjts  such  A'iolent  and  unconstitutional  usuriiation  of  authority,  then  it 
is  full  time  that  the  administration  should  give  us  an  executive  who  has 
the  wisdom  and  courage  to  enforce  the  laws  by  lawful  means.     W.  H.  D." 

"  We  think  this  protest  is  timely,  and  none  too  strong.  According  to 
the  decision  of  the  Sujireme  court  in  the  Mulligan  case — gi-owing  out  of 
the  civil  woir,  reported  in  4  W^all — martial  rule  can  only  be  called  into  ex- 
ercise by  Congress,  or  temporarily  when  the  action  of  Congi'ess  cannot  be 


550  The  Judgment  of  the  People. 


invited,  or  in  justifying  or  excusing  peril  by  the  President,  in  times  of 
insurrection  or  invasion,  or  civil  or  foreign  war,  ^vitliin  districts  or  locali- 
ties where  ordinary  law  no  longer  secures  pubhc  safety  or  jjiivate  rights. 

It  is  only  lauful  in  districts  actually  occupied  by  the  opposing  forces  and 
in  tcliich  the  civil  courts  are  for  the  time  being  completely  displaced.  It  cannot 
[lawfully]  exist  where  the  courts  are  open  and  in  the  proper  and  und  is- 
turbed  exercise  of  their  jurisdiction.  [In  Seattle  the  'agitators  '  appealed, 
in  vain  to  the  courts.] 

It  is  also  confined  to  the  locality  of  actual  war.     As  decided  in  this  case 
it  could  not  exist  in  the  State  of  Indiana  during  the  civil  war. 

None  of  the  circumstances  under  which  martial  laic  is  permissible  with  the 
suspension  of  habeas  corpus  exist  at  Seattle,  and  not  even  Congress  would  have 
the  right  to  do  uliat  Govei-nor  {Mason']  has  assumed  to  do. 

As  the  Supreme  Court  declares,  when  not  authorized,  martial  law  is 
*  mere  laicless  violence. ' 

[And  the  blacklegs  called  it  '  law  and  order. '] 

The  most  that  the  Governor  was  authorized  to  do,  was  to  call  uijon 
the  militia  or  iipon  the  President  for  the  regular  army,  which  is  the  ultimate 
police  to  assist  him  in  the  exercise  of  his  civil  i^ower  in  preserving  the 
peace." 

[Plato  defined  man  as  "  a  two-legged  animal  -without  feathers — having 

broad,  flat  nails."]  45.  * 

* 

"A  convention  of  the  people  held  in  Oregon  resolved  that : 

'  Whereas,  In  defiance  of  article  1,  section  9,  and  amendments  5  and 
6  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  in  utter  violation  of  law. 
Governor  [Mason]  of  Washington  Territory  has,  with  all  the  insolence  of 
imperiahsm,  suspended  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  free  speech  and  Hberty 
of  assemblage,  and  declared  martial  law  in  defiance  of  the  law  of  the  land, 
as  declared  by  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  in  4  Wall,  in  the  case  of 
Mulligan;  and 

WJiereas,  in  addition  to  said  illegal  act  a  mob  of  his  supporters  fired 
upon  an  assemblage  of  jjeoijle,  kUhng  one  and  wounding  three  other 
people  in  Seattle,  on  the  8th  day  of  Febniary,  1886;  and 

Wiereas  said  [Mason]  has  illegally  imprisoned  and  deprived  of  liberty 
vaxious  citizens  of  the  United  States  without  ^jrocess  of  law; 

Resolved,  that  our  Kepresentatives  in  Congi-ess  be  insti-ucted  to  jjrefer 
articles  of  impeachment  against  said  Governor  [Mason] ,  and  to  present  the 
same  for  action  to  the  House  of  Eejiresentatives  at  once. 

Resolved,  that  fifty  thousand  copies  of  these  resolutions  bejjrinted  and 
that  they  be  forwarded  to  every  labor  organization,  anti-Chinese  league 
and  every  Granger's  association  in  the  United  States,  with  the  request  that 
each  such  organization  ratify,  adopt  and  approve  these  resolutions  and 
order  them  sent  to  theirE  epresentatives  in  Congress,  endorsed  with  their 
TU'gent  demand  for  jaroper  action  thereon." 

[But  the  trail  of  the  masonic,  highbinder  sei'i^ent  was  over  them  alL] 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

A  brief,  compreliensive  aud  practical  History  of  Masonry,  Knight  Temp- 
lars of  Malta,  St.  John,  Hospitalers,  etc. — The  Crusades  to  possess  the 
Holy  Land,  Egypt,  etc. — How  Jerusalem  and  Acre  were  taken  and  re- 
taken.— Why  the  Holy  Land  was  made  a  desert. — The  practical  Avork- 
ings  of  the  Masonry  and  kindred  orders  of  to-day.  —Mostly  the  testimony 
of  others  as  taken  from  books  and  the  press. 

VV  EBSTEE'S  definition  of  Mason  and  Masonic,  and  Masonry  and  Free- 
Masonry  is  as  follows : 

"Mason,  an  artificer  in  brick  and  stone;  a  Free-Mason." 

"Masonic,  pertaining  to  Masonry." 

"Masonry,  stone-work." 

What  do  the  kid-gloved  "Masons"  of  to-day  know  about  handling 
stone  ?  But  as  Masonry  was  always  an  honorable  j^roductive  occupation, 
it  can  easily  be  seen  how  its  good  name  aud  emblems  of  honest  toil  would 
be  stolen  to  be  used  as  a  false  cloak  and  bhnd  by  those  Avho  never  had  and 
never  intended  to  cut  or  handle  a  rod  of  stone  in  their  hves;  for  with  such 
cloaks  and  bhnds  and  with  secret  intrigue  they  could  filch  the  fruits  of 
others'  toil. 

The  Order  or  Organization  of  Masons  was  simply  and  only  a  Trade 
Union  of  roving  mechanics  of  stone  masons;  with  an  apron,  comjiass, 
square,  plumb,  mallet  and  trowel  as  Avorkiug  tools  and  true  emblems  of 
their  trade.  These  workmen  being  divided  into  three  classes :  Apprentices, 
companions  or  comrades  and  masters. 

"The  word  'free'  in  connection  with  mason  signifies  that  the  jjerson 
so  called  was  free  of  the  company,  trade  union  or  guild  of  masons.  Those 
ojjerative  or  working  masons  who  were  not  thus  made  free  of  the  guild 
were  not  permitted  to  work  with  those  who  were." 

The  original  and  worthy  i^lan  and  the  organization  of  real  masons  died 
out  in  about  1700. 

History  does  not  teach  that  those  trade  unions  of  masons  were  any 
different  from  the  other  working-men's  unions  of  the  day,  nor  that  they 
had  any  doctrines  peculiar  to  themselves. 

They  had  their  emblems  of  their  mechanical  trade-work  aud  cere- 
monies like  other  trade  federations.      There  were  no  "  inysteines." 

There  are,  however,  many  of  the  spurious  masons  of  the  day,  who, 
anxious  for  an  ancient  and  illustrious  geneology  to  their  craft,  claim  that 
masonry  decends  from  the  ancient  "mysteries"  of  paganism  and  their 
heathen  mythology  and  Gods. 

But  what  would  a  trade  union  want  of  the  false  "doctrine"  (?)  of 
these  old,  exjiloded  fables  and  mysterious  juggleries,  used  as  a  cloak  aud 
blind  to  commit  the  most  indecent  immorality  and  crime  ? 

(551) 


552       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

Those  stone  and  brick  masons  who  -were  willing  to  earn  their  liveli- 
hood by  honest,  hard  labor  and  production,  certainly  had  no  use  for  de- 
ceiDtion  and  jjagan  "mysteries  "  as  a  screen  for  secret  crime  ! 

On  the  contrary,  they  labored  to  build  up,  to  produce  and  improve 
■with  their  own  calloused  hands;  not  to  corrupt,  debauch,  tear  down, 
ravage,  purloin  and  destroy  the  honest  endeavors,  institutions  and  homes 
of  their  neighbors. 

In  building  stone  churches  with  their  hands,  aprons,  compasses, 
squares,  plumbs,  mallets,  trowels,  levels,  etc.,  they  gained  the  good  will 
of  priests  and  prelates  and  others  of  influence  and  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, and  were  thus  and  therefore  granted  special  privileges,  such  as  ex- 
emjjtion  and  freedom  from  certain  taxes.  And  in  retiu-n,  as  a  matter  of 
courtesy,  this  trade  union  of  working  stone  and  brick  masons  would  admit 
these  benefactors  to  their  union  as  honorary  members.  This  appears 
to  have  been  the  entering  wedge  of  the  total  destmction  of  the  ancient 
society  of  masonry.  Other  men  who  did  not  work,  except  with  their  wits 
and  tongues,  then — on  account  of  the  privileges  they  hoiked  to  enjoy  with- 
out earning  them — aj^plied,  and,  by  hook  or  crook,  got  themselves  admit- 
ted as  honorary  or  "accepted"  masons,  and  these  barnacles  finally  be- 
came so  numerous  and  ruinous  that  the  original  i3lan,  j)rinciples,  and 
organization  of  active  or  "operative"  or  real  Free-Masonry  had  died  out 
in  about  1700. 

"There  was  always  some  lord  or  count  or  duke, who  was  willing  to  act 
as  president  of  the  dying  order." 

In  1717,  about  172  years  ago,  operative,  or  honest  and  productive 
masonry,  without  any  revolting  jiagan  "mysteries,"  may  be  said  to  have  end- 
ed, and  "speculative  "  orsi^urious,  desiaoiling  and  "mysterious  "  masonry 
— which  is  the  masonry  of  to-day  and  of  blackleg  officials — "may  be  said  to 
begin." 

They  purloined  and  perverted  the  emblems  of  the  honest  toil  of  the 
old  mechanical  labor  union  of  stone  and  brick  masons,  that  they  had 
barnacled  and  murdered,  io  the  uses  of  their  pagan  "mystery" — jugglery 
— blackleg-gang,  to  flourish  in  the  eyes  of  the  peojile  for  a  blind  with  the 
Bible,  to  which  these  midnight  infidels  proclaim  their  reverence  with  flour- 
ish and  paratle  in  the  streets,  when  such  notorious  infidels  as  Voltau'e  and 
Tom  Paine  were  such  prominent  brethren  in  the  gang.  And  they  declare 
that  "whether  the  candidate  or  brother  is  devoted  to  Brahma,  Allah,  Je- 
hovah, or  Jesus,  is  no  concern  of  theirs  ;  or  Avhether  he  accepts  the  Bible 
of  the  Christian,  the  Talmud  of  the  Jew,  the  Koran  of  the  Mohammedan, 
the  Zend  Avesta  of  the  Persian,  the  Pidda's  of  the  Hindoos,  or  the  Edda's 
of  the  Goth  as  a  true  book  of  insi^iration,  is  a  matter  left  entirely  to  him- 
self. " 

The  craft  of  honest,  working,  productive  masonry  appears  to  have 
been  killed  in  much  the  same  way  as  the  farmers'  Grange  in  the  United 
States;  non-producers  and  enemies  to  honest  labor,  even  spurious  masons. 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        553 

odd-fellows,  and  other  like  barnacles,  having  got  into  the  grange,  were  a 
secret  wheel  within  a  wheel,  which  they  run  backwards,  over  the  pro- 
ducers, thus  strii3ping  and  spoiling  the  wrecks  they  were  making. 

*  * 

"Let  us  not  inculcate  that  crimes  lose  their  names  and  change  their 
natui'e,  because  they  are  successful,  or  that  because  masonry  has  taken  too 
firm  a  root  to  be  eradicated  its  fruit  is  no  longer  j)oisonous.  We  have  to 
contemiDlate  a  triumphant  conqueror,  who  will  neither  pardon  our  in- 
effectual hostility,  nor  believe  in  our  unnatural  reconciliation.*' 

"We  are  indeed  abandoned  by  the  courts,  which  not  only  fails  to  pro- 
tect us,  but  weaken  the  security  which  we  derive  from  our  own  suspicions. 
Is  there  a  citizen  in  the  United  States  whose  person  is  at  this  moment  pro- 
tected from  masonic  intrigue  and  violence  ? '' 

*  * 

"  The  bane  of  joy,  the  spring,  the  sotjece, 

The  gall  of  every  other  curse. " 

"  To  every  man  upon  this  earth 

Death  cometh  soon  or  late; 

And  how  can  man  die  better 

Than  in  facing  fearful  odds. 

For  the  ashes  of  his  fathers 

And  the  temj)les  of  his  Gods  ?  " 
* 
"  The  power  of  the  government  should  be  trusted  only  to  those  who 
are  attached  to  it  above  all  other  governments.  A  king,  a  parliament,  a 
congress,  or  an  army  of  a  different  allegiance  from  that  Avhich  the  govern- 
ment professes,  would  be  as  absurd  as  to  trust  the  dearest  concerns 
of  a  minor  in  the  hands  of  a  person  who  had  the  most  immediate  interest 
to  betray  them.  In  vain  would  you  plead  in  favor  of  such  a  trust  that  the 
guardian  would  be  above  taking  advantage  of  his  situation,  nobody  in  his 

senses  would  think  of  putting  his  virtues  to  so  severe  a  trial." 

*  * 
* 

The  Knight  Templars  of  Malta,  St.  John,  Hospitalers,  etc. ,  etc. ,  were 
a  monastic  disciphned  military  society  of  zealots — for  blood  and  plunder. 
They  were  armed,  and  generally  mounted,  and  protected  by  heavy  armor 
and  coats  of  iron,  and  engaged  to  fight  the  Turks,  the  Tartars  and  the 
Saracens  in  the  bloody  and  disastrous  crusades,  to  invade,  pillage  and 
hold  the  Holy  Lands,  Egyi3t  and  sections  of  other  dominions,  and  they  re- 
ceived big  pay  and  plunder  for  their  services.  They  made  murdering  and 
plundering  expeditions  against  the  caravans  of  pilgrims  travelhng  to  w^or- 
ship  at  Mecca,  and  became  so  obnoxiovts  and  revolting  to  the  people  of  the 
country — who  called  them  "  the  swinish  race" — that  they  were  out-lawed 
and  a  price  put  on  their  heads. 

"Unlike  the  foot  soldier  of  to-day  in  his  simple  uniform,  who  stands 
firm  and  steady  in  the  face  of  both  rifle  and  cannon,  these  Knights  of  old 
were  covered  from  head  to  foot  with  a  sheathing  of  iron  maU  and  plate." 


55i       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

And  -wheu  the  rifle  and  cannon  came  into  use,wliicli  would  allow  them 
no  great  advantage  over  other  men,  but  compelled  an  even  light,  they  went 
into  other  and  more  secret  business,  so  as  to  still  have  an  unfair  advantage 
in  gaining  or  destroying  what  others  had  produced — as  one  of  their  family 
says  : 

"My  ancestors  kept  on  with  their  commonplace  occupation  of 
slaughter  and  robbery  as  Knights,  or  intrigue  and  cruelty  as  priests.  They 
had  varied  fortunes,  now  carousing  in  their  own  halls  after  a  successful 
foray,  anon  chaffing  in  irons  between  the  walls  of  an  enemy's  dungeon. 
They  were  a  versatile  race,  and  when  plate-mail  went  out  of  fashion,  be- 
cause the  people  had  learned  the  use  of  fire-arms,  my  people  were  the  first 
to  recognize  the  changed  condition.  Thereafter  they  figured  in  the  learned 
professions,  and  sought  to  secure  by  persuasion  and  the  advantage  of 
superior  knowledge  what  they  usee'  to  take  by  force."  Others  say  that 
they  figured  more  largely  as  jsirates  in  the  Mediterranian  and  thus  lived 
sumptuously  on  naked  islands  in  the  sea. 

*  * 
* 

Here  is  an  account  of  some  of  their  "victories"  and  cold-blooded 
slaughter  on  land  and  also  their  defeat.  They  were  promised  by  the 
"Christian"  King  of  Jerasalem  the  plunder  of  the  wealthy  city  of  Bel- 
beis  in  Egypt  for  their  jjay  if  they  would  capture  and  hold  the  place  ;  so 
"the  Egyptians  were  taken  comj^letely  by  sui-prise,  the  city  of  Belbeis  was 
taken  and  the  defenseless  inhabitants  were  barbarously  massacred.  Their 
cruelty  and  injustice,  however,  speedily  met  with  condign  punishment  and 
the  Knights  fled  before  the  Egyptians  in  sorrow  and  disappointment  to 
Jerusalem,  their  piety  dwindled  and  they  went  to  killing  each  other  in 
then*  constant  quan-els. " 

* 

In  1099  the  Knights,  with  about  700,000  other  "Christians,"  had 
taken  Jerusalem  from  the  Saracens  or  Cahphs  of  Egypt,  and  not  only  put 
all  who  resisted  to  the  sword,  but  also  massacred  about  10,000  inoflfensive 
citizens,  men,  women  and  children.  Then  laying  down  their  arms  they 
waded  through  the  sea  of  human  blood  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  "They 
gave  the  city  up  to  pillage  and  slaughter,  and  exhibited  a  scene  of  cruelty, 
barbarity,  carnage  and  distress,  too  shocking  to  be  conceived  of  or  de- 
scribed ;  and  when  neither  age  nor  sex  remained  to  glut  the  vengeance  of 
then-  swords,  they  ajsproached  the  seinilchre,  their  hands  yet  warm  with 
the  blood  of  the  aged,  the  infant  and  the  mother,  and  paid  theii'  de- 
votions at  the  shrine  of  the  prince  of  peace.     Godfrey,  King  of  France, 

was  chosen  king  of  Jerasalem. " 

*  * 
* 

To  rid  the  country  of  such  invaders,  the  Holy  Land  -^-ith  its  thickly 

populated  districts   and  innumerable    clusters  of   villages,    quantities   of 

strong  castles,  and  eighty  cities,  was  all  reduced  to  a  devastated  -n-ilderness 

in  1291,  and  governed  by  the  Turks,  to  whom  Jerusalem  was  also  "the 

Holy  City." 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       555 

In  this  re-taking  of  Jerusalem  by  the  turks,  "the  air  was  rent  with  the 
loud  Mussuhnan  shouts,  the  Holy  City!  the  Holy  City  !  When  they  had 
finished  their  prayers,  the  loud  trumpets  of  Saladin  summoned  the  Chiist- 
ians  to  surrender  the  House  of  God  'to  the  arms  of  the  faithful ;  but  the 
Christiant  returned  for  answer  that,  please  God,  the  Holy  City  should  not 
be  surrendered.  The  next  morning  at  sunrise  the  tenified  :'nhabitants 
were  awaked  by  the  clangor  of  horses  and  drums,  the  loud  clash  of  arms 
and  the  fierce  cries  of  the  foe. 

The  women  and  children  rushed  to  the  churches  and  threw  them- 
selves on  theii  knees  before  the  altar,  weeping  and  wailing  and  lifting  up 
their  hands  to  Heaven,  Avhile  the  men  hastened  to  man  the  battlements. 
Monks  and  canons,  bishops  and  priests,  took  arms  in  defense  of  the  Holy 
Sepulchre,  and  lined  in  warlike  array  the  dark  gray  battlements  and  towers 
of  Jerusalem. 

But  the  Mussulman  archers  soon  became  so  numerous  and  so  esjjert 
that  the  garrison  dare  not  show  themselves  upon  the  wall.  Saladin  also 
employed  his  troops  in  the  construction  of  mihtary  engines,  stationing 
10,000  cavalry  around  the  city  to  intercept  fugitives  and  prevent  the  intro- 
duction of  suiDjihes.  When  his  engines  were  com^Dleted  he  directed  all  his 
efi:brts  against  the  northern  wall  of  the  city,  which  extended  between  St. 
Steven's  Gate  and  the  Gate  of  Jopi^a,  from  which  the  successful  assaults 
had  been  made  by  the  crusaders  eighty-eight  years  before. 

Barefoot  processions  of  women,  monks  and  priests  were  continually 
made  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  to  implore  the  Son  of  God  to  save  his  tomb 
and  his  inheritance  from  impious  violation.  The  females  as  a  mark  of 
humility  and  distress,  imitating  the  Saracens,  cut  off  their  hair  and  cast 
it  to  the  winds,  while  the  ladies  of  Jerusalem  made  thek  daughters  do 
penance  by  standing  up  to  their  necks  in  tubs  of  cold  water  i^laced  upon 
Calvary. 

To  iirevent  the  garrison  from  attemjiting  to  break  the  force  of  the 
battering  rams,  Saladin  constructed  vast  engines  for  throwing  stones,  and 
other  machines,  which  cast  enormous  stones,  and  the  terrible  Greek  fire  and 
combustible  materials  contained  in  brass  pots,  and  flaming  beams  of  tim- 
ber covered  with  j)itch  and  najshta,  upon  the  rami>arts  and  over  the  Avails 
into  the  city.  He,  moreover,  employed  miners  to  sap  the  foundations 
of  the  towers,  and  on  the  16th  of  September,  1187,  the  angle  of  the  north- 
ern wall,  at  the  northAvest  Avhere  it  touches  the  valley  Hinnom,  was  thrown 
down  A\dth  a  tremendous  crash. 

In  the  morning  a  sujJijhant  deputation  jsroceeded  to  Saladin  to  im- 
plore his  mercy,  but  ere  they  reached  the  imperial  tent  the  assault  had 
commenced,  and  twelve  Moslem  banners  waA'ed  in  tiiumph  upon  the 
breach.  The  Sultan  accordingly  refused  to  hear  the  messengers,  declar- 
ing that  he  would  take  Jerusalem  from  the  Franks  as  they  had  taken  it 
from  the  Moslems — SAVord  in  hand.  However,  the  liberty  and  security  of 
the  inhabitants  were  pm'chased  for  about  $750  dollars  for  each  man. 


556       The  Practical  Workings  or  Masonry,  etc. 

"Saladin  restored  the  sacred  area  of  the  temple  to  its  original  "oudition 
under  the  first  Mussulman  conquerox",  the  Christian  bells  were  silent,  the 
churches  v>ere  destroyed,  the  Koran  was  read,  the  imaums  were  again 
heard,  and  Islam  once  more  resumed  its  sway  1187." 

*  * 

■X- 

After  the  loss  of  Jerusalem  the  city  of  Acre  was  coveted  for  the 
metrojiolis  of  the  invaders,  and  they  took  it  at  the  cost  of  about  300,000 
•'  Christian  "  men,  "with  as  many  Saracens  in  1191,  and  strongly  fortified  it. 

But  it  was  recovered  again  after  a  siege  of  six  weeks.  "Neither  by 
night  nor  by  day  did  the  shouts  of  the  assailants  and  the  noise  of  the 
military  engines  cease.  Huge  stones  and  beams  of  timber  and  pots  of 
burning  tar  and  naphta  were  continually  hurled  into  the  city.  The 
walls  were  battered  from  without,  and  the  foundations  Avere  sapped  by 
miners  who  were  incessantly  laboring  to  advance  their  works.  More  than 
600  catapults,  ballistae  and  other  instruments  of  destruction  were  directed 
against  the  fortifications,  and  the  battering  machines  were  of  such  im- 
mense size  and  weight  that  100  wagons  were  required  to  transport  the 
separate  timbers  of  one  of  them.  Movable  towers  were  erected  by  the 
Moslem,  so  as  to  overtop  the  walls.  Their  workmen  and  advanced  parties 
were  protected  by  hurdles  covered  with  rawhides,  and  all  the  mihtary 
contrivances  which  the  art  and  the  skill  of  the  age  could  j^roduce  were 
used  to  facilitate  the  assault.  Day  by  day  the  number  of  the  ganison 
was  thinned  by  the  sword,  whilst  in  the  enemy's  camp  the  places  of  the 
dead  were  constantly  suppUed  by  fresh  warriors,  animated  with  the  same 
wild  fanaticism  in  the  cause  of  their  religion  as  that  which  distinguished 
the  invaders. 

After  thirty -three  days  of  constant  fighting  the  great  tower,  considered 
the  key  of  the  fortifications  and  called  by  the  Moslem  the  'Cui-sed  Tower,' 
was  thrown  down  by  the  mihtary  engines.  To  increase  the  terror  and  dis- 
traction of  the  besieged.  Sultan  Khalil  mounted  300  drummers  with  their 
drums  upon  as  many  dromedaries,  and  had  them  make  as  much  noise  as 
possible  whenever  a  general  assault  was  ordered." 

' '  At  sunrise  the  air  resounded  with  a  deafening  noise  of  drums  and 
trumpets,  and  the  breach  was  carried  and  recovered  several  times.  Loud 
appeals  to  God  and  to  Mohammed,  to  Jesus  Christ,  to  the  Yirgin  Mary,  to 
Heaven  and  the  Saints  were  to  be  heard  on  all  sides,  and  after  an  obstinate 
engagement  from  sunrise  to  simset  darkness  i^ut  an  end  to  the  slaughter. 
The  miners  continued  incessantly  to  advance  their  operations.  Another 
wide  breach  was  o^jened  in  the  walls,  and  on  the  third  day  the  enemy 
made  the  final  assault  on  the  side  next  the  gate  of  St.  Anthony.  The 
panic-stricken  garrison  fled  to  the  port,  and  the  Moslem  rushed  on  with 
tremendous  shouts  of  "Allah  hu  Achbar  !  " 

Thousands  of  panic-stricken  invaders  now  fled  to  the  seaside  and 
sought  with  frantic  violence  to  gain  possession  of  the  ships  and  boats  that 
rode  at  anchor  in  the  port.     But  a  frightful  storm  of  wind  and  rain  and 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       557 

liglituing  liung  over  the  dark  aud  agitated  waters  of  the  sea.  The  elements 
theraselves  waiTed  against  the  invaders,and  the  loud-peahng  thunder  became 
mingled  with  the  din  and  uproar  of  the  assault  and  the  clash  of  arms. 
The  boats  and  vessels  were  swamped  by  the  singing  waves  and  the  bitter 
cries  of  the  jjerishing  fugitives  ascended  alike  from  the  sea  and  the  shore. 
Thousands  fled  to  the  churches  for  refuge  but  f ountl  none. 

The  Grand  Master  of  the  Knight  Templars  with  his  comj^anions — de- 
serting these  fugitives  which  were  under  their  protection — loaded  them- 
selves with  treasure,  and  escaped  in  the  night  through  a  secret  passage 
they  had  provided  for  themselves,  communicating  with  the  harbor, 
boarded  vessels  in  waiting,  and  escaped  in  safety  to  the  island  of  Cyprus, 
Avhich  was  after  this  their  headquarters.  The  Moslem  Mamelukes  set  fire 
to  the  town  in  four  places.  The  walls,  the  towers  and  the  ramparts  Avere 
demolished,  and  the  last  stronghold  of  the  "  Christians"  in  Palestine  Avas 
speedily  reduced  to  a  smoking  solitude.  • 

Thus  closed  the  long  and  furious  struggle  between  the  Crescent  and 
the  Cross,  A.  D.  1291.  The  few  remaining  Christians  in  the  Holy  Land 
were  chased  from  ruin  to  ruin  and  exterminated.  The  churches,  the 
houses  and  the  fortifications  along  the  sea  coast  were  demohshed,  and 
everything  that  could  afford  shelter  and  security,  or  iuA-ite  the  ajJiDroach 
of  the  Crusaders  from  the  West,  was  carefully  destroyed.  The  houses 
were  all  set  on  fire,  the  trees  were  cut  down  and  burned,  the  land  was  every- 
where laid  waste,  and  all  the  maritime  country,  from  Laodicea  to  Ascalon, 
was  made  a  dessert.  "Every  trace  of  the  crusader,"  says  an  Arabian 
writer,  ' '  was  removed,  and  thus  it  shall  remain,  please  God,  until  the  day 
of  Judgment  ! " 


The  Knight  Temjjlars  had  been  in  bad  rejjute  for  a  long  time  in 
Europe  on  account  of  their  bad  conduct,  and  their  pay,  which  had  been 
immense,  was  stopped.  So  now  many  of  them  went  into  the  service  of  the 
King  of  the  Mogul-Pagan-Tartars  in  Persia  to  assist  in  his  exjieditions  of 
conquest  and  plunder.  Sometimes  they  would  be  hired  by  the  Tartars  1  ■ 
fight,  murder  and  ravage  for  them,  and  then  by  others  to  fight,  murde. 
and  plunder  the  Taiiars.  But  they  were  generally  defeated  and  returned 
to  the  islands  in  the  Mediterranean  sea,  though  many  were  scattered  over 
Eiu-oiDe,  and  were  considered  a  nuisance  to  the  communities  and  govern- 
ments in  and  under  Avhich  they  lived.  They  were  opiiosed  to  paying  toll 
aud  taxes  like  other  jjeople,  and  wanted  to  hold  courts  and  try  off'endei'S 
of  their  order.  Like  the  Masons,  Indians,  Chinamen  aud  Mormons  of  to- 
day they  wanted  a  government  of  their  own  within  the  general  govern- 
ment, and  live  in  clannish  tribal  relations,  while  they  filched  a  livehhood 
from  others,  and  were  therefore  never  good  citizens  of  any  country.  Like 
the  secret  gangs  of  to-day,  they  were  notorious  for  shielding  their  crimin- 
als against  the  government  and  real  citizens  of  the  country. 


558       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

They  loved  to  ape  the  Pagan  despots  and  jDreserve  the  lewd  secret  evils 
and  myths  and  "mysteries"  of  pagan  jji-iests  that  they  embraced  while 
serving  the  Mogul  and  other  Kings  as  venal  mercenaries. 

"At  the  ovitset  the  Temj^lars  were  suj^ijosed  to  be  of  blameles  charac- 
ter, unmarried  and  to  remain  single  the  whole  of  their  lives.  They  were 
also  to  give  wp  to  the  cn-der  all  their  projjerty  and  to  devote  themselves 
exclusively  to  the  sei-vice  of  God,  the  sick  and  the  poor,  and  the  defense 
of  the  Holy  Land.  Their  food  was  originally  bread  and  water,  and  their 
conch  only  a  sack  of  straw,  all  of  which,  together  with  their  gai-ments, 
were  regularly  distributed  among  them  by  their  Grand  Master,  to  whom 
they  were  sw'orn  to  obey. " 

It  was  thus  that  the  order  toas  richly  endowed  and.  jjaid,  wdth  revenues 
and  estates  by  pious  and  enthusiastic  peojsle  for  the  cause  of  chanty  and 
religion.  But  when  this  was  curtailed  and  then."  pay  stojJiJed,  they  threw 
off  their  cloak  of  meekness  and  charity  (and  embraced  paganism).  Indeed, 
they  had  done  so  before,  and  the  loss  of  Jerusalem  and  the  Holy  Land 
"was  charged  to  their  cowardice,  jealousies  and  treachery  ;  after  which  their 
estates  were  taken  by  the  government  and  devoted  to  charity  and  religion 
[the  cause  for  which  they  icere  intended]  by  giving  them  to  the  poor. 

Later  we  find  them  fighting  for  the  King  of  what  now  forms  a  part  of 
Prussia.  They  were  to  get  for  their  pay  concessions  of  important  rights 
and  privileges,  and  the  possession  of  all  the  land  they  might  conquer  or 
rob  from  the  owners  during  the  war.  In  this  way  they  possessed  large 
districts  along  the  Baltic  Sea,  governed  by  a  "  Landmaster. " 

' '  During  these  events  the  order  had  assumed  a  new  form  and  charac- 
ter. Instead  of  the  original  name  of  brothers,  the  knights  now  addressed 
each  other  as  master ;  and,  indeed,  acted  as  such  in  the  strictest  sense  of 
the  term.  They  became  imperious,  insolent,  haughty,  tyrannical,  des- 
potic, and  led  a  dissipated,  e\il  and  luxurious  life  at  the  expense  of  their 
Prussian  subjects,  who  figured  as  the  most  wretched,  op])ressed  and  miser- 
able creatures  in  Europe,''  [and  this  is  their  disj^osition  to-dayl.  "Nowhere 
was  bondage  carried  to  such  an  extent  as  under  the  rule  of  the  Knights, 
who  were  intoxicated  by  w-ar  and  plunder,  and  jjlunged  in  sensual  ["mys- 
tic "]  enjoyments  and  vice.  Hence  the  continual  insun-ections,  devasta- 
tions of  towns  and  lands,  comiDlaints  and  difficulties  ;  hence  the  hated  de- 
crees of  the  Pope  and  Em^jeror ;  the  incessant  disputes  with  the  clergy 
and  bishops  of  rank,  which  finally  resulted  in  prostration  and  exhaustion 
of  their  strength  and  power." 

They  were  excommunicated  by  Pope  John  XXII.,  and  finally  in  1809 

Napoleon  abolished  the  order,  and  since  then  it  has  existed  only  in  name. 

*  * 

* 

The  Knights  that  settled  on  the  islands  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea  ap- 
pear to  have  engaged  successfully  in  piracy,  for  example  :  "They  found 
Malta  a  poor,  naked,  arid  rock,  with  neither  river,  rivulet  or  spring ;  in 
summer  it  was  intolerably  hot,  with  not  a  tree  to  relieve  the  eye. "    Yet, 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.      559 

■without  producing  anything,  when  they  were  driven  off  and  exterminated 
for  their  crimes,  "it  was  an  island  of  palaces." 

* 

"  Cruelty  of  Knights.''' — In  the  mediaeval  history  of  Europe,  says  J.  A. 
Farrar,  in  the  so-called  times  of  chivalry,  a  far  worse  spirit  prevailed  with 
regard  to  the  treatment  of  captives.  Knight  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  one  of 
the  brightest  memories  of  chivalry,  was  responsible  for  the  promiscuous 
slaughter  of  three  days  which  the  crusaders  exacted  for  the  six  weeks 
siege  which  it  cost  them  to  take  Jerusalem  (1099).  They  had  1190  Swabian 
prisoners  delivered  to  the  executioner  at  Milan,  or  shot  from  military 
engines. 

Charles  of  Anjou  reserved  many  prisoners  taken  at  the  battle  of 
Benventune  to  be  killed  as  criminals  on  his  entrance  into  Naj^les.  When 
they  took  the  castle  Pesquiere  from  the  Venetians,  they  slew  all  but  three 
who  surrendered  to  the  pleasure  of  the  King  ;  and  Louis  XII. ,  who  is 
counted  for  a  humane  monarch,  though  his  victims  offered  100,000  ducats 
for  their  lives,  swore  that  he  would  neither  eat  nor  drink  till  they  were 
hanged. 

When  the  town  of  Rouen  surrendered  to  Henry  V.,  of  England,  the 
latter  stipulated  for  three  of  the  citizens  to  be  left  to  his  disposal,  of  whom 
two  purchased  their  lives  and  the  third  was  beheaded  (1419).  When  the 
same  King  the  year  follo^ring  was  besieging  the  castle  of  Monterau,  he 
sent  some  twenty  jjrisoners  to  treat  with  the  Governor  for  a  sun-ender  ; 
but  when  the  Governor  refused  even  to  save  their  lives,  and  when,  after  a 
fearful  leave-taking  with  their  wives  and  relatives,  they  had  been  escorted 
back  to  the  English  army,  the  Knight  King  of  England  ordered  a  gallows 
to  be  erected,  and  had  them  all  hanged. 

When  the  EngUsh  took  the  castle  of  Rougemont  by  storm  and  some 
sixty  of  its  defenders  alive,  with  the  loss  of  only  one  Englishman,  Knight 
Henry  V.,  in  revenge  for  his  death, caused  all  the  prisoners  to  be  drowned 
in  the  Loire. 

When  Meaux  sun-endered  to  the  same  King,  it  was  stipulated  that  six 
of  its  bravest  defenders  should  be  delivered  uji  to  justice,  four  of  whom 
were  beheaded  at  Paris,  and  its  commander  at  once  hung  to  a  tree  outside 
the  walls  of  the  city. 

Take  for  another  example,  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion.  He  is  the  ideal 
knight-errant  of  every  school-boy  and  school-gii-1 — the  darling  of  romance. 
He  was  in  point  of  fact  an  unmitigated  ruffian,  and,  incredible  as  it  may 
appear,  a  cannibal.  One  day,  under  the  walls  of  Acre,  being  convalescent 
he  had  a  great  desire  for  some  pork,  and  no  jiork  was  to  be  had.  They 
accordingly  killed  for  him  a  young  Saracen,  plumi)  and  tender,  cooked 
and  salted  him,  and  the  Knight  King  ate  him  and  found  him  very  good. 

Thereupon  he  desired  to  see  the  head  of  the  pig.  The  cook,  in  some 
trepidation,  brought  him  in.  Knight  Richard  laughed  heartily,  and  ob- 
served that  the  army  had  nothing  to  fear  from  famine,  having  such  excel- 
lent provisions  in  store. 


660       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

Shortly  after  the  town  was  taken,  and  Saladin's  ambassadors  came  to 
sue  for  pardon  for  the  prisoners.  The  High  Grand  Knight  King  ordered 
thirty  of  the  most  noble  of  them  to  be  beheaded  and  the  heads  to  be  boiled 
and  cooked.  This  accomphshed,  the  heads  Avere  labelled  with  the  names 
of  the  dead  men  and  served  up  to  the  Saracen  ambassadors. 

In  their  ijresence  the  Very  "Worthy  Grand  High  Chief  Knight  Eichard 
ate  a  Ukely  looking  head  with  much  relish,  and  bade  them  tell  Saladin 
how  the  "Christians  "  made  war. 

He  then  ordered  sixty  thousand  helpless  prisoners  to  be  led  out  into 
a  plain,  where  they  were  all  ruthlessly  butchered.  "When  he  took  a 
town  it  was  his  habit  to  murder  everybody,  women  and  children  included." 

"He  made  an  effort  to  sell  the  City  of  Loudon  and  all  it  contained  to 
the  Jews,  and  missed  no  opportunity  of  plundering  and  oppressing  his 
English  subjects,  for  whom  he  had  precisely  the  same  sort  of  regard  as  the 
lion  for  his  prey." 

"All  this  is  well  known  to  historians;  yet  the  youths  of  the  country 

are  taught  in  school  and  college  by  these  latter  day  Knight  Templars  [who 

lay  the  corner  stones  of  our  ijublic  buildings]  to  look  up  to  this  unalloyed 

villain  as  one  of  the  glories  of  the  English  race  and  name." 

*  * 

* 

There  were  dark  rumors  and  odious  reports  concerning  the  conduct  of 
the  Templars,  and  finally  (1307 — 8)  those  in  France  and  England  were,  by 
the  influence  of  the  Christian  Church  (which  had  been  their  main  sui^ijort 
as  a  "charitable  society")  an-ested,  and  horrible  charges  made  against 
them  and  "  proven  by  the  courts  "  to  be  true — many  confessing  to  the  same. 

"Though  professing  to  be  Christians,  they  were  accused  of  worship- 
ing an  idol,  covered  with  an  old  skin,  embalmed,  ha\-ing  the  appearance 
of  a  polished  oil  cloth.  In  this  idol,  it  was  asserted,  '  there  were  two  car- 
buncles for  eyes,  bright  as  the  brightness  of  heaven,  and  it  is  certain  that 
all  the  hope  of  the  Templars  was  placed  in  it.  It  was  their  sovereign  God, 
and  they  trusted  in  it  with  all  their  heart.'  " 

"They  were  accused  of  burning  the  bodies  of  deceased  brethren  and 
making  the  ashes  into  a  jjowder,  which  they  administered  to  their  younger 
brethren  in  their  food  and  drink,  to  make  them  hold  fast  to  their  faith  and 
idolatry ;  of  cooking  and  roasting  infauts  and  anointing  their  idols  wdth  the  fat; 
of  celebrating  hidden  rites  and  mysteries,  to  which  young  and  tender  \-ir- 
gins  were  introduced,  and  of  a  variety  of  abominations  \jpagan  'mysteries,^ 
indeed  !'\  too  horrible  to  be  named. 

That  the  Templars  had  a  hollow  place  or  cave  in  the  earth  [nowadays 
they  use  the  upper  story  of  a  building]  in  which  they  had  an  image  in  the 
form  of  a  man,  which  they  had  invested  with  the  skin  of  a  human  body, 
and  in  which  were  inserted  two  bright  and  gUttering  carbuncles  in  Heu  of 
eyes.  At  this  horrible  statue  they  who  craved  to  enter  their  damnable  re- 
ligion were  compelled  to  sacrifice;  whom,  before  all  ceremonies,  they 
obliged  to  deny  Jesus  Christ  and  to  foul  the  cross  with  their  feet. 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        561 

After  tbey  had  profaned  the  Holy  object,  in  which  girls  and  boys,  se- 
duced to  be  of  their  sect,  assisted,  they  put  out  the  lamps  and  hghts  they 
had  in  the  cave,  and  if  it  happened  that  a  Templar  and  a  girl  had  a  child, 
they  ranged  themselves  in  a  circle  and  threw  the  babe  from  hand  to  hand, 
until  it  died  by  violence.  Being  dead  they  roasted  it  (horrible  act  !)  and 
of  its  fat  anointed  the  grand  statue  (idol)." 

Nearly  all  confessed  their  treason  and  ciimes  and  were  pardoned;  but 
it  is  stated  that  "for  the  glory  of  God,  the  stability  of  the  faith  and  of  the 
Holy  Church  "  113  were  executed. 

In  the  trial  given  them  in  England  by  the  Church,  the  Pope  said :  '  'In 
truth,  a  long  time  ago  there  came  to  our  ears  a  rumor  that  the  Templars, 
though  fighting  ostensibly  under  the  guise  of  religion  for  the  acquisition, 
detention  and  defence  of  the  Holy  Land,  have  hitherto  been  secretly  hving 
in  perfidous  apostasy  and  in  detestable,  heretical  depravity,  which  we 
were  unwilling  to  yield  a  ready  belief  to  the  accusation."  But  after  in- 
vestigating the  matter  the  Pope  declared,  in  a  papal  bull,  himself  perfect- 
ly convinced  of  the  guilt  of  the  order,  and  "solemnly  denounces  the 
jienalty  of  excommunication  against  all  persons  of  whatever  rank,  station 
or  condition  in  life,  whether  clergy  or  laity,  who  should  knowingly  afi'ord 
either  publicly  or  privately  assistance,  counsel  or  kindness  to  the  Templars, 
or  should  dare  to  shelter  them,  or  give  them  countenance  or  protection; 
and  also  laying  under  interdict  all  cities,  castles,  lands  and  places,  which 
should  harbor  any  of  the  members  of  the  proscribed  order." 

[This  was  a  first-class  boycot !] 

The  Templars  were  accused,  and  many  of  them  confessed  as  follows, 
in  brief  : 

I.  "  That  at  their  reception  into  the  Order,  as  soon  as  an  opi^ortunity 
occurred,  they  were  induced  or  admonished  by  those  who  had  received 
them  within  the  bosom  of  the  fraternity,  to  deny  Christ,  or  Jesus,  or  the 
crucifixion,  or  at  one  time  God,  and  at  another  time  the  Blessed  Vu'gin, 
and  sometimes  all  the  saints. 

5.  That  the  receivers  told  and  instructed  those  that  were  received  that 
Christ  was  not  the  true  God,  or  sometimes  Jesus,  or  sometimes  the  person 
crucified. 

7.  That  they  said  he  had  not  suffered  for  the  redemption  of  mankind, 
nor  been  crucified  excejit  for  his  own  sins. 

9.  That  they  made  those  they  received  into  the  Order  spit  upon  the 
cross  or  the  image  of  Christ. 

10.  That  they  caused  the  cross  itself  to  be  trampled  under  foot. 

II.  That  the  brethren  themselves  did  trample  on  the  same  cross. 

14.  That  they  worshipped  a  cat  which  was  placed  in  the  midst  of  the 
congregation. 

16.  That  they  did  not  believe  the  sacrament  of  the  Church. 

24.  That  it  was  believed  and  so  it  was  told  them  that  the  Grand 
Master  of  the  Order  could  absolve  them  from  their  sins. 

26.  That  the  visitors  could  do  so. 

26.  That  the  Preceptors,  of  Avhom  many  were  laymen,  could  do  so. 

36.  That  the  receptions  of  the  brethren  were  made  clandestinely. 

37.  That  none  were  present  except  th«  brothers  of  the  said  Order. 

36 


562       The  Practical  "Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

38.  That  for  this  reason  there  has  for  a  long  time  been  a  vehement 
suspicion  against  them. 

46.  That  the  brothers  themselves  had  idols  in  every  province,  viz., 
heads,  some  of  which  had  three  faces,  and  some  one,  and  some  a  man's 
skull. 

47.  That  they  adored  that  idol,  or  those  idols,  especially  in  their  great 
chapters  or  assembUes. 

48.  That  thev  worshipped  them. 

49.  As  their  God. 

50.  As  their  Saviour. 

51.  That  some  of  them  did  so. 

52.  That  the  greater  part  did. 

53.  They  said  that  those  heads  could  save  them. 

54.  That  they  could  jsroduce  riches. 

55.  That  they  had  given  to  the  Order  all  its  wealth. 

56.  That  they  caused  the  earth  to  bring  forth  seed. 

57.  That  they  made  the  trees  to  flourish. 

58.  That  they  bound  or  touched  the  heads  of  the  said  idols  with  cords 
wherewith  they  bound  themselves  about  their  shirt  or  next  their  skin. 

59.  That  at  their  reception,  the  aforesaid  httle  cord,  or  others  of  the 
same  length  were  delivered  to  each  of  the  brothers. 

60.  That  they  did  this  in  worship  of  their  idols. 

61.  That  it  was  enjoined  them  to  gird  themselves  with  the  said  little 
cords  as  before  mentioned,  and  continually  to  wear  them. 

62.  That  the  brethren  of  the  Order  were  generally  received  in  that 
manner. 

63.  That  they  did  these  things  out  of  devotion. 

64.  That  they  did  them  everywhere. 

65.  That  the  greater  part  did.  That  those  who  refused  the  things 
above  mentioned  at  their  recej^tion,  or  to  observe  them  afterwards,  were 
killed  or  cast  into  jarison.  [Atid  twenty-one  other  charges  of  devilish  and  in- 
decent pagan  "  mysieries."^ 

It  was  provided  that  the  examination  by  torture  should  be  conducted 
without  mutilation  or  disabling  of  any  limb,  and  without  effusion  of  blood. 
[This  being  more  humane  than  the  conduct  of  the  masons  of  to-day  towards 
their  ijrisoners.] 

It  appears  that  the  most  of  the  Templars  confessed  their  sins  and 
apostatized,  and  were  reconciled  to  the  church  and  State  ;  others — ivith 
their  indecent  pagan  "mysteries" — united  with  the  spurious  masons  [of 
ichich  is  the  masonry  of  to-day)  while  others  were  convicted  and  executed 
or  imprisoned  by  the  courts  for  their  crimes,  1307  to  1320,  and  their  ill- 
gotten  property  given  to  the  poor. 

*  * 

Sometimes  Knight  Templars  were  known  as  "Brazen  Serpents  !  "  and 
— though  a  troop  of  soldiers,  or  human  butchers,  or  a  gang  of  pirates  would 
have  no  use  for  the  square,  trowel,  level  and  plumb — then-  emblems  of  a 
brazen  serpent,  skull  and  crossbones,  and  dagger,  and  pagan  dress,  are 
truly  emblematic  of  their  character  and  conduct. 

*  * 

* 

"  Attempts  have  been  made  to  incorjDorate  the  Knights  into  [real] 
masonry,  and  their  cross  has  been  adopted  by  some  of  the  high  degrees 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       563 

[of  the  spunous  order]  but  history  fails  to  show  the  sHghtest  trace  of  any 
actual  connection  between  the  orders. " 

Templarism  superseded  all  other  forms  of  Knighthood.  As  the  one 
sank  into  decay  and  became  the  butt  and  ridicule  of  Cervantes  and  other 
authors,  it  was  melted  into  the  other,  and  these  united  with  the  si^eculative, 
anti-working,  siJUiious  masons,  adopting  it  into  their  code  of  pagan  doctrines 
and  indecent,  lewd  "mysteries"  and  opening  their  own  institutions  to  its 
numerous  associations,  they  gained  thereby  an  accession  of  i^ower  nearly 
equal  to  their  own. 

And  of  such  is  the  masonry,  etc.,  of  to-day  ! 

Larousse  furnishes  another  explanation  of  the  strained  connection  be- 
tween the  old  and  the  new,  and  states  that  in  the  eighteenth  century,  cer- 
tain members  of  the  masonic  lodge  took  up  the  idea  of  perpetuating  the 
ancient  order  of  Templars,  and  to  this  end  aflSJiated  themselves  with  several 
distinguished  jjersonages  who  were  imbued  with  deistical  ideas. 

Gradually  the  order  lost  its  distinctive  character  and  was  melted  into 
speculative  [or  spurious]  masonry.  The  old  order  has  passed  away  with 
the  old  ages  that  brought  it  into  existence,  but  the  old  pagan  fables  and 
obscene,  lewd  "  mysteries  "  are  still  cherished. 

*  * 

Masonry  was  largely  a  Jewish  craft,  and  therefore  could  not  he  a  Christ- 
ian order. 

And  they  (the  Jews)  scattered  it  through  the  countries  of  Europe  and 
by  the  union  of  Templarism  and  sjiurious  masonry,  found  their  best  and 
congenial  friends  among  the  Templars  with  their  stock  of  pagan  idolatry 
and  "mysterious"  ijolutions.  And  both  being  sly,  heartless  and  grasp- 
ing in  the  pursuit  of  gain,  withoiat  work  or  production.  So  that,  although 
one  boasts  of  having  battled  for  the  cross  and  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  the 
other  glories  in  having  crucified  Jesus  on  the  cross,  yet,  this  mongrel, 
kid-gloved-spurious- midnight,  masonry  and  pagan-idolatrous-Templarism 
is  such  that  they,  the  Tartar,  the  Chinaman,  and  the  Mormon — in  their 
sly  greed,  cruelty  and  clanishness — dwell  and  conspire  together  in  unison 
and  brotherly  love  against  the  Government  that  is  not  clanish,  pagan  and 
kingly  enough  for  them,  and  against  its  full-fledged  citizens  and  pro- 
ducers. 

Patriotism  and  rehgion,  equal  rights  and  privileges,  level  justice  and 
charity  to  aU,  are  discarded,  spit  upon  and  tramjjled  in  the  mire  of  their 
black  deceit,  love  of  cruelty,  grasping  greed,  and  their  hatred  of  the  truth  ! 

*  * 
* 

"  I  am  in  the  place  ichei'e  I  am  demanded  of  conscience  to  speak  the  truth 
and  therefore  the  truth  I  speak,  impugn  it  tcho  so  lists." 

"1  never  could  believe  that  providence  had  sent  a  few  men  into  the 
world,  ready  booted  and  spurred  to  ride,  and  millions  ready  saddled  and 
bridled  to  be  ridden. " 


56-4       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

"They  damped  every  pleasure,  every  bliss  destroyed, 
And  nipped  the  budding  blossom  of  my  joy." 

"  Many  and  sharp  the  num'rous  ills 

luwoven  ■«'ith  our  frame  ! 
More  pointed  still  we  make  ourselves 

Eegi-et,  remorse,  and  shame  : 
And  man,  whose  heaven-erected  face 

The  smiles  of  love  adorn, 
Man's  inhumanity  to  man. 

Makes  countless  thousands  mourn  ! 

See  yonder  poor,  o'er-labor'd  "wight, 

So  abject,  mean  and  "\"ile, 
Who  begs  a  brother  of  the  earth 

To  give  him  leave  to  toil  ; 
And  see  his  lordly  fellow-worm 

The  poor  petition  spm-n, 
Unmindful,  though  a  weeping  wife 

And  helpless  off-springs  mourn. 

If  I"m  designed  yon  lordhug's  slave — 

By  nature's  law  designed — 
"Why  was  an  independent  wish 

Eer  i^lanted  in  my  naiud  ? 
If  not,  why  am  I  subject  to 

His  cruelty  or  scorn  ? 
Or  why  has  man  the  will  and  power 

To  make  his  fellow  mourn  ?  " 

*  * 

* 

Oath  of  a  Candidate  rx  the  Fiest  Degbee  of  Fkee-Masoxky. 

From  "The Mysteries  of  Free-Masonry,"  as  wi-itten  by  Captain  William 

Morgan.     By  George  E.  Crafts,   formerly  Thrice  Puissant 

Grand  Master  of  Manitou  Council,  New  York." 

"  As  soon  as  the  candidate  is  placed  in  this  position,  the  Worshipful 
Master  a^jproaches  him,  and  says,  'Mr.  A.  B.,  you  are  now  placed  in  a 
proper  position  to  take  upon  you  the  solemn  oath  or  obhgation  of  an 
Entered  Apprentice  Mason,*  which  I  assure  you  is  neither  to  affect  your 
reHgion  nor  politics.  If  you  are  willing  to  take  it,  repeat  your  name,  and 
say  after  me : 

'I,  A.  B.,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  in  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  and  this  worshipful  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  dedicated 
to  God,  and  held  forth  to  the  lioly  order  of  St.  John,  do  hereby  and  here- 


*  In  many  Lodges  this  is  put  in  the  form  of  a  question  thus  :  "  Are  you  willing  to  take  an 
obligation  upon  you  that  does  not  affect  your  politics  or  religion?"  The  promise  "  to  conform," 
made  before  entering  the  Lodge,  the  "assurance  that  the  oath  is  not  to  interfere  with  their 
political  or  religious-prinfiples,"  and  the  manner  the  obligation  is  administered,  only  two  or 
three  words  being  repeated  at  a  time,  consenuently  not  fully  unde  stood,  are  among  thf>  reasons 
which  have  led  many  great  and  good  men  to  take  oaths  incompatible  with  the  laws  of  Gcd  and 
our  country. 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       565 

on  most  solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  always  hail, 
ever  coueeal,  and  never  reveal  any  pavt  or  parts,  art  or  arts,  point  or  points 
of  the  secrets,  arts  and  mysteries  of  ancient  Free  Masonry,  -which  I  have 
received,  am  about  to  receive,  or  may  hereafter  be  instructed  in,  to  any 
person  or  persons  in  the  known  world,  except  it  be  a  true  and  lawful 
brother  Mason,  or  within  the  body  of  a  just  and  lawfully  constituted 
Lodge  of  such,  and  not  unto  him,  nor  unto  them  whom  I  shall  hear  so  to 
be,  but  unto  him  and  them  only  whom  I  shall  tind  so  to  be,  after  strict 
trial  and  due  examination  or  lawful  information.  Furthermore,  do  I  pro- 
mise and  swear  that  I  avlU  not  write,  jjiint,  stamji,  stain,  hew,  cut,  carve, 
indent,  paint,  or  engrave  it  on  anything  moveable  or  immovable,  under  the 
w^hole  canopy  of  heaven,  wdiereby,  or  whereon  the  least  letter,  ligure, 
character,  mark,  stain,  shadow,  or  resemblance  of  the  same  may  become 
legible  or  intelligible  to  myself  or  any  other  person  in  the  known  world, 
whereby  the  secrets  of  Masonry  may  be  unlawfully  obtained  through  my 
nnworthiness.  To  all  which  I  do  most  solemnly  and  sincerely  jn-omise 
and  swear,  without  the  least  equivocation,  mental  reservation,  or  self- 
evasion  of  mind  in  me  whatever  ;  binding  myself  toider  no  less pencdti/,  than 
to  hive  my  throat  cut  across,  my  tongue  torn  out  by  the  roots,  and  my  body 
buried  in  the  rough  sands  of  the  sea  at  low  loatermark,  where  the  tide  ehljs  ana 
flows  twice  in  ttrenty-four  hours;  so  help  me  God,  and  keep  me  steadfast  in 
the  true  performance  of  the  same." 

Oath  of  the  Second,  or  FELiiOW  Craft  Mason's  Degree. 

"Brother,  you  are  now  placed  in  a  proper  position  to  take  on  jow  the 
solemn  oath,  or  obhgatiou,  of  a  Fellow  Craft  Mason,  which  I  assure  you, 
as  before,  is  neither  to  afiect  your  religion  nor  pohtics;  if  you  are  willing 
to  take  it,  rejjeat  your  name,  and  say  after  me  :" — 

"I,  A.  B.,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  and  this  Worshipful  Lodge  of  Fellow  Craft  Masons,  dedicated  to 
God,  and  held  forth  to  the  holy  order  of  St.  John,  do  hereby  and  hereon 
most  solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  in  addition  to  my  former 
obUgation,  that  I  will  not  give  the  degree  of  a  Fellow  Craft  Mason  to  any 
one  of  an  inferior  degree,  nor  to  any  other  being  in  the  known  world,  ex- 
cejit  it  be  to  a  true  and  lawful  brother,  or  brethren  Fellow  Craft  Masons, 
or  within  the  body  of  a  just  and  lawfully  constituted  Lodge  of  such;  and 
not  unto  him  nor  unto  them  whom  I  shall  hear  so  to  be,  but  unto  him  and 
them  only  whom  I  shall  find  so  to  be,  after  strict  trial  and  due  examination, 
or  lawful  information.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will 
not  wi'oug  this  Lodge,  nor  a  brother  of  this  degree,  to  the  value  of  two 
cents,  knowingly,  myself,  nor  suffer  it  to  be  done  by  others,  if  in  my  jaower 
to  prevent  it.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  SAvear,  that  I  Avill  sui^port 
the  Constitution  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  this  State,  under  which  this  Lodge  is  held,  and  conform  to  all 
the  by-laws,  rules  and  regulations  of  this,  or  any  other  Lodge,  of  Avhich  I 
may  at  any  time  hereafter  become  a  member,  as  far  as  in  my  power. 
Fiirthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  obey  all  regular  signs 
and  summons  given,  handed,  sent,  or  thrown  to  me  by  the  hand  of  a 
brother  Fellow  Craft  Mason,  or  from  the  body  of  a  just  and  lawfully  con- 
stituted Lodge  of  such;  provided  it  be  within  the  length  of  my  cable-tow, 
or  a  square  and  angle  of  my  work.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear, 
that  I  will  be  aiding  and  assisting  all  i)oor  and  penniless  brethren  Fellow 
Crafts,  their  widows  and  orphans,  wheresoever  disjiosed  round  the  globe, 
they  apjdying  to  me  as  such,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  without  injuring  my- 
self or  family.  To  all  which  I  do  most  solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and 
swear,  without  the  least  hesitation,  mental  reservation,  or  self-evasion  of 


566       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 


mind  in  me  •whatever;  binding  myself  under  no  less  jjenalty  than  to  have 
my  left  breast  torn  oijeu,  and  my  heart  and  vitals  taken "  from  thence, 
and  thrown  over  my  left  shoulder,  and  carried  into  the  valley  of  Je- 
hosaj^hat,  there  to  become  a  prey  to  the  wild  beasts  of  the  fields,  and 
vidtures  of  the  air,  if  ever  I  should  prove  AWlfully  guilty  of  violating 
any  part  of  this  my  solemn  oath  or  obligation  of  a  Fellow  Craft  Mason; 
so  keep  me  God,  and  keep  me  steadfast  in  the  due  i^erformance  of  the 
same." 

The  Master  then  says,  "Detach  your  hands,  and  kiss  the  book, 
which  is  the  Holy  Bible,  twice." 

"Oath  ok  Obligation  of  a  Masteb  Mason, 

which  I  assure  you,  as  before,  is  neither  to  affect  your  religion  nor 
politics.  If  you  are  willing  to  take  it,  rejaeat  your  name,  and  say  after 
me:" — 

"I,  A.  B. ,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God  and  the  Worshipful  Lodge  of  Master  Masons,  erected  to  God,  and 
dedicated  to  the  holy  order  of  St.  John,  do  hereby  and  hereon  most 
solemnly  and  sincerely  jDromise  and  swear,  in  addition  to  my  former 
obhgations,  that  I  will  not  give  the  degree  of   a  Master  Mason  to    any 

one  of  inferior  degree,  nor  to  any  other  being Furthermore,  do  I 

promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  give  the  grand  hailing  sign  of  dis- 
tress, except  I  am  in  real  distress,  or  for  the  benefit  of  the  craft  when 
at  work  ;  and  should  I  ever  see  that  sign  given,  or  the  word  accom- 
jjanying  it,  and  the  i^erson  who  gave  it  appearing  to  be  in  distress,  I 
will  fly  to  his  relief  at  the  risk  of  my  life,  should  there  be  a  greater 
probability  of  saving  his  life  than  of  losing  my  own.  Furthermore,  do 
I  promise  and  swear  that  I  will  not  wrong  this  Lodge,  nor  a  brother 
of  this  degree,  to  the  value  of  one  cent,  knowingly,  myself,  nor  suffer 
it  to  be  done  by  others,  if  in  my  j^ower  to  jjrevent  it.  Furthermore, 
do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  sjjeak  evil  of  a  brother  Master 
Mason,  neither  behind  his  back,  nor  before  his  face,  but  wdll  aiDprise  him 
of  all  approaching  danger,  if  in  my  power.  Furthermore,  do  I  jiromise 
and  swear  that  I  will  not  violate  the  chastity  of  a  Master  Mason's  wife, 
mother,  sister,  or  daughter,  I  knowing  them  to  be  such,  nor  suffer  it  to  be 
done  by  others,  if  in  my  jDOwer  to  prevent  it.  Furthermore  do  I  promise 
and  swear  that  I  will  sui^port  the  constitution  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  of ,  under  which  this  Lodge  is  held,  and  conform  to  all  the  by- 
laws, rules  and  regulations  of  this,  or  any  other  Lodge  of  which  I  may,  at 
any  time  hereafter,  become  a  member.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and 
swear,  that  I  will  obey  all  regular  signs,  summons,  or  tokens,  given, 
handed,  sent,  or  thrown  to  me  from  the  hand  of  a  brother  Master  Mason, 
or  from  the  body  of  a  just  and  lawfully  constituted  Lodge  of  such  ;  pro- 
vided it  be  within  the  length  of  my  cable-tow.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise 
and  sw'ear  that  a  Master  Mason's  secrets,  given  to  me  in  charge  as  such, 
shall  remain  as  secure  and  inviolable  in  my  breast  as  in  his  own,  when 
communicated  to  me,  murder  and  treason  excepted  ;  and  they  left  to  my 
oion  election.  Furthermore,  do  I  jsromise  and  swear  that  I  will  go  on  a 
Master  Mason's  en-and,  w^henever  required,  even  should  I  go  barefoot  and 
bareheaded,  if  within  the  length  of  my  cable-tow.*  Furthermore,  do  I 
promise  and  swear  that  I  will  always  remember  a  brother  Master  Mason, 
when  on  my  knees  offering  up  my  devotions  to  Almighty  God.     Further- 


*  Liternlly  a  rope  several  yards  in  length,  but  mystically  three  miles,  so  that  a  Master 
Mason  must  go  on  a  brother  Master  Ma-'on's  en  and  whenever  required  the  distance  of  three 
miles,  should  he  have  to  g  >  barefoot  and  bareheaded.  In  the  degrees  of  Knighthood  the  dis- 
tance is  forty  miles. 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        567 

more,  do  I  promise  and  swear  tliat  I  will  be  aiding  and  assisting  all  poor 
indigent  Master  Masons,  their  wives  and  orijhaus,  wheresoever  disposed 
round  the  globe,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  withotit  injuring  myself  or  family 
materially.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear  that  if  any  part  of  this 
my  solemn  oath  or  obligation  be  omitted  at  this  time,  that  I  will  hold  my- 
self amenable  thereto,  whenever  informed.  To  all  of  which  I  do  mo.st 
solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  with  a  fixed  and  steady  jiur- 
pose  of  mind  in  me,  to  keep  and  perform  the  same,  binding  myself  under 
no  less  penalty  than  to  have  my  body  severed  in  two  in  the  midst,  and 
divided  to  the  North  and  South,  my  bowels  biirnt  to  ashes  in  the  centre 
and  the  ashes  scattered  befoj'e  the  four  winds  of  heaven,  that  there  might 
not  the  least  tract  or  ti'ace  of  remembrance  remain  among  men  or  Masons 
of  so  vile  and  perjiired  a  wretch  as  I  should  be  were  I  ever  to  prove  wilful- 
ly giiilty  of  violating  any  part  of  this  my  solemn  oath  or  obligation  of  a 
Master  Mason  ;  so  help  me  God,  and  keep  me  steadfast  in  the  due  jier- 
formance  of  the  same." 

The  Master  then  asks  the  candidate,  "What  do  you  most  desire?" 
The  candidate  answers  after  his  promjitei',  "More  light."  The  bandage 
which  was  tied  round  his  head  in  the  preparation  room,  is,  by  one  of  the 
brethren,  who  stands  behind  him  for  that  purpose,  loosened  and  in\t  over 
both  eyes,  and  he  is  immediately  brought  to  light,  in  the  same  manner  as 
in  the  preceding  degree,  except  three  stamps  on  the  floor,  and  three  claps 
of  the  hands  are  given  in  this  degree.  On  being  brought  to  light,  the 
Master  says  to  the  candidate,  "You  first  discover,  as  before,  three  great 
lights  in  Masonry,  by  the  assistance  of  three  lesser,  with  this  difierence, 
both  points  of  the  compass  are  elevated  above  the  square,  which  denotes 
to  you  that  you  are  about  to  receive  all  the  light  that  can  be  conferred  on 
you  in  a  Mason's  Lodge. "  The  Master  steps  back  from  the  candidate  and 
says,  "  Brother,  you  now  discover  me  as  Master  of  this  Lodge,  approach- 
ing you  from  the  East,  imder  the  sign  and  due-guard  of  a  Master  Mason." 
The  sign  is  given  by  raising  both  hands  and  arms  to  the  elbows  jjerpen- 
dicularly,  one  on  either  side  of  the  head,  the  elbows  forming  a  square. 
The  words  accompanying  this  sign  in  case  of  distress,  are,  "O  Lord  my 
God,  is  there  no  help  for  the  widow's  son  !  " 

Oath  of  a  Mark  Master  Mason. 

"I,  A.  B.,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  in  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  and  this  Eight  Worshipful  Lodge  of  Mark  Master  Masons,  do  hereby 
and  hereon,  in  addition  to  my  former  obligations,  most  solemnly  and  sin- 
cerely promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  give  the  degree  of  a  Mark  Master 
Mason  to  any  one  of  inferior  degree,  nor  to  any  other  person  in  the  known 
world.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  support  the 
constitution  of  the  General  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chai)ter  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  also  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chajiter  of  this  State,  under 
which  this  Lodge  is  held,  and  conform  to  all  the  by-laws,  rules  and  regu- 
lations of  this  or  any  other  Lodge  of  Mark  Master  Masons,  of  which  I  may 
at  any  time  hereafter  become  a  member.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and 
swear,  that  I  will  obey  all  regular  signs  and  summons  given,  handed,  sent, 
or  thrown  to  me  from  the  hand  of  a  brother  Mark  Master  Mason,  or  from 
the  body  of  a  just  and  legally  constituted  Lodge  of  such,  ijrovided  it  be 
within  the  length  of  my  cable-tow.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear, 
that  I  will  not  wrong  this  Lodge,  or  a  brother  of  this  degree,  to  the  value 
of  his  wages,  (or  one  penny)  myself,  knowingly,  nor  suft'er  it  to  be  done  by 
others,  if  in  my  power  to  i^reventit.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear 
that  I  will  not  sell,  swap,  barter,  or  exchange  my  mark,  which  I  shall 
hereafter  choose,  nor  send  it  a  second  time  to  pledge  until  it  is  lawfully 


568       The  Praciical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 


redeemed  from  the  first.  Fui-thermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I 
■will  receive  a  brother's  mark  when  offered  to  me  requesting  a  favor,  and 
grant  him  his  request,  if  in  my  power  ;  and  if  it  is  not  in  my  power  to 
grant  his  request,  I  will  retiu-n  him  his  markAvith  the  value  thereof,  which 
is  half  a  shekel  of  silver,  or  qiiarter  of  a  dollar.  To  all  of  which  I  do  most 
solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  with  a  fixed  and  steady  i)ur- 
poseof  inind  in  me, to  keep  and  jDerform  the  same,  binding  myself  under  no 
less  penalty,  than  to  have  my  right  ear  smote  off,  that  I  may  forever  be 
unable  to  liear  the  word,  and  my  right  hand  chopped  off,  as  the  penalty  of 
an  impostor,  if  I  should  ever  prove  wilfully  guilty  of  violating  any  i^art  of 
this  my  solemn  oath,  or  obhgation,  of  a  Mark  Master  Mason.  So  help  me 
God,  and  make  me  steadfast  to  keep  and  i:>erf orm  the  same."  "Detach, 
your  hand  and  kiss  the  book." 

Oath  of  the  Past  Mastek's  Degree. 

"  The  candidate  kneels  on  both  knees,  lays  both  hands  on  the  Holy 
Bible,  square  and  compass,  and  takes  the  following  oath,  or  obhgation  : 

"I,  A.  B.,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  in  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  and  this  Worshipful  Lodge  of  Past  Master  Masons,  do  hereby  and 
hereon,  most  solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  in  addition  to  my 
former  obligations,  that  I  will  not  give  the  degree  of  Past  Master  Mason, 
or  any  of  the  secrets  pertaining  thereto,  to  any  one  of  an  inferior  degree, 
nor  to  any  person  in  the  known  w^orld.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and 
swear,  that  I  will  obey  all  regular  signs  and  summons,  sent,  thrown, 
handed  or  given  from  the  hand  of  a  brother  of  this  degree,  or  from  the 
body  of  a  just  and  lawfully  constituted  Lodge  of  Past  Masters,  pro\-idedit 
be  within  the  length  of  my  cable-tow.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and 
swear,  that  I  will  support  the  constitution  of  the  General  Grand  Eoyal 
Arch  Chapter  of  the  United  States  of  America ;  also,  that  of  the  Grand 

Chapter  of  the  State  of ,  under  which  this  Lodge  is  held,  and  conform 

to  all  the  by-laws,  rules  and  regulations  of  this,  or  any  other  Lodge,  of 
which  I  may  at  any  time  hereafter  become  a  member,  so  far  as  in  my 
power.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  assist,  or  be 
present  at  the  conferring  of  this  degree  upon  any  person,  who  has  not,  to 
the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief,  regularly  received  the  degrees  of 
Entered  Apprentice,  Fellow  Craft,  Master  Mason,  and  Mark  Master,  or 
been  elected  Master  of  a  regular  Lodge  of  Master  Masons.  Furthermore, 
do  I  promise  and  SAvear,  that  I  will  aid  and  assist  all  poor  and  indigent 
Past  Master  Masons,  their  widows  and  orphans,  wherever  dispersed  round 
the  globe,  they  applying  to  me  as  such  and  finding  them  worthy,  so  far  as 
iu  my  power,  without  material  injury  to  myself  or  family.  Furthennore, 
do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  the  secrets  of  a  brother  of  this  degi-ee,  de- 
livered to  me  in  charge  as  such,  shall  remain  as  secure  and  inviolable  in 
my  breast,  as  they  were  in  his  oavti,  before  communicated  to  me  ;  murder 
and  treason  excepted,  and  those  left  to  my  own  election.  Furthermore, 
do  I  promise  anel  swear,  that  1  will  not  wrong  this  Lodge,  or  a  brother  of 
this  degree,  to  the  value  of  one  cent,  knoAviugly,  myself,  nor  suffer  it  to 
be  done  by  others,  if  in  my  power  to  jjrevent  it.  All  which,  I  do  most 
solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear,  with  a  fixed  and  steady  pur- 
pose of  mind,  to  keep  and  perform  the  same  ;  binding  myself  under  no 
less  i^enalty,  than  to  have  my  tongue  split  from  tip  to  root  ;  that  I  might 
forever  thereafter,  be  unable  to  pronounce  the  word,  if  ever  I  should 
l^rove  wilfully  guilty  of  violating  any  part  of  this,  my  solemn  oath,  or 
obligation,  of  a  Past  Master  Mason.  So  help  me  God,  and  make  me 
steadfast  to  keep  and  perform  the  same." 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        569 

Oath  of  Most  Excellent  Master's  DegPvEE. 

"I,  A.  B.,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accovd,  in  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  and  this  Lodge  of  Most  Excellent  Master  Masons,  do  hereby  and 
hereon,  in  addition  to  my  former  obligations,  most  solemnly  and  sincerely 
promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  give  the  degree  of  the  most  Excellent 
Master  to  any  of  an  inferior  degree,  nor  to  any  other  person,  or  i?ersons, 
in  the  known  world.  Furthermore,  do  I  jiromise  and  swear,  that  I  will 
obey  all  regular  signs  and  summons,  given,  handed,  sent,  or  thrown  to  me 
from  a  brother  of  this  degree,  or  from  the  body  of  a  just  and  lawfully 
constituted  Lodge  of  such,  provided  it  be  Avithiu  the  length  of  my  cable- 
tow,  if  in  my  power.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will 
suiJioort  the  constitution  of  the  General  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chaj^ter  of  the 
United  States  of  America ;  also,  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  the 
State  of ,  under  Avhich  this  Lodge  is  held,  and  conform  to  all  the  by- 
laws, riiles  and  regulations  of  this,  or  any  other  Lodge,  of  which  I  may, 
at  any  time  hereafter,  become  a  member.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and 
SAvear,  that  I  will  aid  and  assist  all  poor  and  indigent  brethren  of  this  de- 
gree, their  widows  and  orphans,  Avheresoever  dispersed  round  the  globe, 
as  far  as  in  my  power,  without  injuring  myself  or  family.  Furthermore, 
do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  the  secrets  of  a  brother  of  this  degree,  given 
to  me  in  charge  as  such,  and  I  knowing  them  to  be  such,  shall  remain  as 
secret  and  inviolable  in  my  breast  as  in  his  own,  murder  and  treason  ex- 
cepted, and  the  same  left  to  my  own  free  will  and  choice.  Furthermore, 
do  I  i^romise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  wrong  this  Lodge  of  Most  Excel- 
lent Master  Masons,  nor  a  brother  of  this  degree,  to  the  value  of  anything, 
knowingly,  myself,  nor  suffer  it  to  be  done  by  others,  if  in  my  power  to 
prevent  it ;  but  will  give  due  and  timely  notice  of  all  approaches  of  dan- 
ger, if  in  my  power.  Furthermore,  do  I  i^roniise  and  swear,  that  I  will 
dispense  Hght  and  knowledge  to  all  ignorant  and  uninformed  brethren,  at 
all  times,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  without  material  injury  to  myself  or 
family.  To  all  which,  I  do  most  solemnly  swear,  with  a  fixed  and  steady 
purpose  of  mind  in  me,  to  keep  and  perform  the  same,  binding  myself 
under  no  less  i^enalty  than  to  have  my  breast  torn  open,  and  my  heart  and 
vitals  taken  from  thence,  and  exjjosed  to  rot  on  the  dunghill,  if  ever  I  vio- 
late any  part  of  this,  my  solemn  oath,  or  obligation,  of  a  Most  Excellent 
Master  Mason  :  so  help  me  God,  and  keep  me  steadfast  in  the  due  j^er- 
formance  of  the  same."     "Detach  your  hands  and  kiss  the  book." 

Oath  op  the  Royal  Arch  Degkee. 

. .  "  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  speak  evil  of  a 
companion  Royal  Arch  Mason,  neither  behind  his  back  nor  before  his 
face,  but  will  apprise  him  of  approaching  danger,  if  in  my  power.  Fur- 
thermore, do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  not  strike  a  comijanion  Roy- 
al Arch  Mason  in  anger,  so  as  to  draw  his  blood.  Furthermore,  do  I 
promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  suj^i^ort  the  constitution  of  the  General 
Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  the  United  States  of  America  ;  also,  the 
constitution  of  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Cliajiter  of  the  State  under  which 
this  ChajDter  is  held,  and  conform  to  all  the  by-laws,  rules  and  regulations 
of  this,  or  any  other  Chapter  of  which  I  may  hereafter  become  a  member. 
Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  obey  all  regular  signs, 
summons,  or  tokens  given,  handed,  sent,  or  thrown  to  me  from  the  hand 
of  a  companion  Royal  Arch  Mason,  or  from  the  body  of  a  just  and  lawfully 
constituted  Chapter  of  such,  provided  it  be  within  the  length  of  my  calile- 
tow.  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  aid  and  assist  a 
companion  Royal  Arch  Mason,  when  engaged  in  any  difficulty  ;  and  es- 
pouse his  cause,  so  far  as  to  extricate  him  from  the  same,  if  in  my  power, 


570       The  Pkactical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 


wbetlier  he  be  right  or  wrong.  Also,  that  I  will  jiromote  a  companion 
Eoval  Arch  Mason's  political  preferment  in  preference  to  another  of  equal 
qualifications.  *  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  a  companion 
Royal  Arch  Mason's  secrets,  given  me  in  charge  as  such,  and  I  knowing 
them  to  be  such,  shall  remain  as  secure  and  inviolable  in  my  breast  as  in 
his  own,  murder  a>i(l  treason  not  excepteAl.\  Furthermore,  do  I  promise 
and  swear,  that  I  will  be  aiding  and  assisting  all  poor  and  indigent  Roval 
Arch  Masons,  their  widows  and  orphans,  wherever  dispersed  around  the 
globe,  so  far  as  is  in  my  j^ower,  without  material  injury  to  myself  or 
family.  All  which,  I  do  most  solemnly  and  sincerely  promise  and  swear, 
Avith  a  firm  and  steadfast  resolution  to  perform  the  same,  without  any 
ecpiivocation,  mental  reservation,  or  self-evasion  of  mind  in  me  whatever  ; 
binding  myself  under  no  less  jjenalty  than  that  of  having  my  skull  smote 
off,  and  my  brains  exposed  to  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun,  should  I  ever 
knowingly,  or  wilfully,  violate  or  transgress  any  jjart  of  this  my  solemn 
oath,  or  obligation,  of  a  Royal  Arch  Mason.  So  help  me  God,  and  keep 
me  steadfast  in  the  ijerformance  of  the  same." 

The   OBIilGATIONS   of   ThKICE  iLIiUSTBATED   KnIGHTS   OF  THE   CeOSS, 

First  Obligation. — You,  Mr.  ,  do  now,  by  your  honor,  and  in  view 

of  the  power  and  union  of  the  Thrice  Illustrious  Order  of  the  Cross,  now 
first  made  known  to  you,  and  in  the  dread  presence  of  the  Most  Holy  and 
Almighty  God,  solemnly  and  sincerely  swear  and  declare,  that,  to  the  end 
of  your  Hfe,  you  Avill  not,  either  in  consideration  of  gain,  interest,  or 
honor,  nor  with  good  or  bad  design,  ever  take  any,  the  least,  step  or 
measure,  or  be  instrumental  in  any  such  object,  to  betray  or  communicate 
to  any  person,  or  being,  or  number  of  the  same,  in  the  known  world,  not 
thereto  of  cross  and  craft  entitled,  any  secret  or  secrets,  or  ceremony  or 
ceremonies,  or  any  part  thereof  appertaining  to  the  order  and  degree 
known  among  Masons  as  the  Thrice  Illustrious  Order  of  the  Cross.  That 
you  will  not,  at  any  time  or  times  whatever,  either  now  or  hereafter, 
dkectly  or  indirectly,  by  letter,  figure,  or  character,  however  or  by  who- 
ever made,  ever  communicate  any  of  the  information  and  secret  mysteries 
heretofore  alluded  to.  That  you  will  never  speak  on  or  upon,  or  breathe 
high  or  low,  any  ceremony  or  secret  api^ertaining  thereto,  out  of  Council, 
where  there  shall  not  be  two  or  more  Knights  companions  of  the  order 
present,  besides  yourself,  and  that  in  a  safe  and  sure  place,  whereby  any 
opinion,  even  of  the  nature  and  general  principles  of  the  institution,  can  be 
formed  by  any  other  person,  be  he  Mason  or  otherwise,  than  a  true  Knight 
companion  of  the  cross  ;  nothing  herein  going  to  interfere  with  the  i^ru- 
dent  practice  of  the  duties  enjoined  by  the  order,  or  arrangement  for  their 
enforcement. 

2.  You  further  swear,  that,  should  you  know  another  to  violate  any 
essential  part  of  this  obhgation,  you  will  use  your  most  decided  endeavors, 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  bring  such  i^erson  to  the  strictest  and  most  con- 
dign punishment,  agreeably  to  the  rules  and  usages  of  our  ancient  fratern- 
ity ;  and  this  by  pointing  him  out  to  the  world  as  an  unworthy  vagabond  ; 
by  opposing  his  interest,  by  deranging  his  business,  by  transferring  his 
character  after  him  wherever  he  may  go,  and  by  exposing  him  to  the  con- 
tempt of  the  whole  fraternity  and  the  world,  but  of  our  illustrious  order 
more  esiiecially,  during  his  whole  natural  life. 


*  This  clause  is  sometimes  made  a  distinct  poiat  in  the  obligation  in  the  following  form, 
viz  :  Furthermore,  do  I  promise  and  swear,  that  I  will  vote  for  a  companion  Koyal  Arch 
Muj-on,  before  any  other  of  equal  qualifications;  and  In  some  Chapters,  both  are  left  out  of 
the  obligation. 

t  In  some  Chapters  this  is  administered  :  "All  the  secrets  of  a  companion  without  ex- 
ception " 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       571 

3.  Should  any  Thrice  Ilh;strioiis  Kuight  or  acting  officer  of  any  coun- 
cil which  may  have  them  in  hand,  ever  require  your  aid  in  any  emergency 
in  defence  of  the  recovery  of  his  said  charge,  you  swear  cheerfully  to  ex- 
ercise all  assistance  in  his  favor,  which  the  nature  of  the  time  and  place 
will  admit  even  to  the  saci-ifice  of  life,  liberty,  and  projierty.  To  all,  and 
every  part  thereof,  we  then  bind  you,  and  by  ancient  usage  you  bind 
yourself,  under  the  no  less  infamous  jjenalty  than  dying  the  death  of  a 
traitor,  by  having  a  spear,  or  other  sharp  instrument,  Hke  as  our  divine 
Master,  thrust  in  your  left  side. 

PABT  OF  Thibd  Obligation  of  Knights  of  the  Ckoss. 

3.  I  swear  to  venerate  the  mark  as  the  wisdom  and  decree  of  Heaven,  to  unite  our 
hands  and  hearts  In  the  work  of  the  holy  crusade,  and  as  an  encouragement  to  act  with 
zeal  and  eflai;acy;  and  I  swear  to  consider  Its  testimonies  as  the  true  and  only  proper  test 
of  an  illustrious  brother  of  the  cross. 

4.  I  swear  to  wear  the  mark  of  this  order,  without  any  the  least  addition,  escet't  what 
I  shall  be  legally  entitled  to  hy  induction,  for  ever.  If  not  without  the  physical  means  of  do- 
ing so,  or  it  being  contrary  to  propriety;  and  even  then,  if  possible,  to  wear  the  boly  cross; 
and  I  swear  to  put  a  chief  dependence  for  the  said  worthy  and  i>lous  objects  therein. 

5.  I  swenr  to  put  confidence  unlimited  in  every  lllustiious  brother  of  the  cross,  as  a 
true  and  worthy  follower  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  who  has  sought  this  land,  not  lor  private 
good,  but  pity,  and  the  glory  of  the  religion  of  the  Most  High  and  Holy  God. 

6.  I  swear  never  to  permit  my  political  principles  nor  personal  interest  to  comecounter 
to  his.  If  forbearance  and  brotherly  kindness  can  operate  to  prevent  it;  and  never  to  meet 
him  if  I  know  it,  in  war  or  in  peace,  under  such  circumstances  that  I  may  not,  in  justice  to 
myself ,  my  cross,  and  my  country,  wish  him  unqualifled  success;  and  if  perchance  It 
should  happen  without  my  knowledge,  on  being  informed  thereof,  that  I  will  use  my  best 
endeavors  to  satisfy  him,  even  to  the  relinquishing  my  arms  and  purpose.  I  will  never 
shed  a  brother's  blood  nor  thwart  his  good  fortune,  knowing  him  to  be  such,  nor  see  it  done 
by  others  if  in  my  power  to  prevent  It. 

7.  I  swear  to  advance  my  brother's  best  Interest,  by  always  supporting  his  military 
fame  and  political  preferment  in  opposition  to  another;  and  by  employing  his  arms  or  his 
aid  In  his  vocation,  under  all  circumstances  where  I  shall  not  suffer  more  by  so  doing,  than 
he,  by  my  neglecting  to  do  so,  but  this  never  to  the  sacrifice  of  any  vital  Interest  in  our  holy 
religion,  or  In  the  welfare  of  my  country. 

8.  I  swear  to  look  on  his  enemies  as  my  enemies,  his  friends  as  my  friends,  and  stand 
forth  to  mete  out  tender  kindness  or  vengeance  accordingly;  but  never  to  intrude  on  his 
social  or  domestic  relations  to  his  hurt  or  dishonor  by  claiming  his  privileges,  or  by  de- 
bauching or  defaming  his  female  relations  or  friends. 

9.  I  swear  never  to  see  calmly  nor  without  earnest  desires  and  decWed  measures  to 
prevent  the  ill-treatment,  slander,  or  defamation,  of  any  brother  knight,  nor  ever  to  view 
danger  or  the  least  shadow  of  Injury  about  to  fall  on  his  head. 

11.  I  i^wear  to  keep  sacred  my  brother's  secrets,  both  when  delivered  to  me  as  such, 
and  when  the  nature  of  the  iuformation  is  such  as  to  require  secrecy  for  his  welfare. 

12.  I  swear  to  hold  myself  bound  to  him,  especially  in  affliction  and  adversity,  to  con- 
tribute to  his  necessities  my  prayers,  my  influence,  and  my  purse. 

13.  I  swear  to  be  under  the  control  of  my  council,  or,  if  belonging  to  none,  to  that 
which  Is  nearest  to  me,  and  never  to  demur  to,  or  complain  at,  any  decree  concerning  me, 
which  my  brethren,  as  a  council,  shall  conceive  me  to  deserve,  and  enforce  on  my  head,  to 
my  hurt  and  dishonor. 

14.  I  swear  to  obey  pllsuTimons  sent  from  any  council  to  me,  or  from  nny  M<^st  Illus- 
trious Knight,  whether  Illustrious  Counsellor  f.'r  the  time  being,  O'  by  induction  and  to  be 
governed  by  the  constitution,  Ubages  and  customs  Of  the  order  without  vai  lation  or  change. 

To  all  this,  and  every  part  thereof,  I  do  now,  as  before,  by  the  honor  and  power  of  ilie 
mark,  as  by  an  honorable  and  awful  oath,  which  coufirmeth  all  things  In  thd  dread  j're- 
sence  of  the  Most  Holy  and  Almighty  God,  solemnly  and  In  truth,  bind  and  obligate  my 
soul ;  and  in  the  earthly  penalties,  to  wit,  that,  for  the  violation  of  the  least  matter  or  par- 
ticle of  any  of  the  here  taken  obligations,  I  become  the  silent  and  mute  subject  of  the  dis- 
pleasure of  the  Illustrious  uriier,  and  have  their  power  and  wrath  turned  on  my  head  to 
my  destruction  and  dishonor,  which,  like  the  nail  of  Joel,  may  be  the  sure  end  of  an  unworthy 
wreti  h,  by  piercing  my  temples  with  a  true  sense  of  my  lucratliude— and  for  a  breach  of 
silence  in  case  of  such  an  unhappy  event,  that  I  shall  die  the  infamous  death  of  a  traltoi, 
by  having  a  spear,  or  other  sharp  weapon,  like  as  my  Lord,  thrust  in  my  left  side-  bearing 
testimony,  even  in  'leath,  of  the  power  of  the  mark  of  the  Holy  and  Illustrious  Cross,  before 
I.  H.  S.  our  Thrice  Illustrious  Counsellor  In  Heaven,  the  Grand  Ck)uncll  of  the  good.  To  this 
I  swear. 

*  * 

•X- 

The  Boyal  Sechet,  or  Kadosh. 

Instructions  for  the  i  eunlon  of  the  brethren,  Kulghts.  Princes,  and  Commanders,  of  the 
Royal  Secret  or  Kadosh,  which  really  signifies.  Holy  brethren  of  all  degrees  separated. 

hrederick  III.,  King  of  Prussia,  Grand  Master  and  Commander  In  Chief,  Sovereign  of 
Sovereigns,  with  an  army  composed  of  the  Knights,  Princes  of  the  White  and  Black  Eagle,, 
Including  Prussian,  English  and  French;  likewise  joined  by  the  Knights  Adepts  of  the  Sun 


572       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

Princes  of  Llbanus  or  the  Royal  Axe,  tho  Knights  of  the  Rose  Croix  or  St.  Andrew,  Knights 
of  the  East  and  West,  the  Princes  of  Jerusalem,  Kulghts  of  the  East  or  Sword,  the  Grand 
Elect  Perfect  and  Sublime  Masons,  the  Knights  of  the  Royal  Arch,  (ninth  Arch,)  Sublime 
Knights  Elected,  &c.,  &c. 

The  hour  for  the  dei)arture  or  march  of  the  army  Is  the  fifth  after  the  settlngof  the  sun 
and  is  to  be  made  linown  by  the  firing  of  five  great  guns  in  the  following  order  lOi— (0  0  0  0. 
—  that  Is,  Willi  an  Interval  between  the  first  and  second.  The  first  rendezvous  is  to  be  the 
port  of  Naples— from  Naples  to  the  port  of  Rhodes— from  Rhodes  to  Cyprus  and  Malta, 
whence  the  whole  naval  force  of  all  nations  Is  to  assemble.  The  second  rendezvous  is  to  be 
at  Cyprus,  kc.  The  third  rendezvous  is  to  bo  at  Jerusalem,  where  they  will  be  joined  by 
our  faithful  guardians.  The  watchwords  for  eveiy  day  of  the  week  are  as  follows;  and  they 
are  not  to  be  changed  but  by  express  order  from  the  King  of  Prussia : 

Protectors  of  Mastnry.  Prophets. 

Sunday,  Cyrus,  Ezekiel, 

Monday,  Darius,  I  1    i  auiel, 

Tuesday,  Xerxes,  I  \   Habakkuk, 

Wednes-day,     Alexander,         V     Answer,      J  Zephanlah, 
Thursday,        Philadelphus,  I  j   Haggal, 

Friday,  Herod,  J  f   Zacharian, 

Saturday,        Hezeklah,  ^  Malachl, 

iSi^n.— Place  the  right  hand  on  the  heart;  extend  It  forward,  the  palm  downward  ;  let  It 
fall  by  the  right  i-ide.  Sacred  words. — Those  of  the  Carpet,  which  are  t'>  be  read  backward 
round  the  circle  from  right  to  left,  thus:— One  says  "Salix,"  to  which  the  other  repllps 
"Nonl;"  both  then  repeat  (by  letters)  the  word  *'  rengu."  Pass-words.— "  I'hual  Kol," 
which  signifies  "  separated  ;"  "Pharas  Kol,"  which  signifies  "  reunited  ;■'  "Nekam  Makah," 
which  signifies  "to avenge;"  each  then  letters  the  word  "Shaddai,"  which  signifies 
"Omnipotent." 

Charge  addressed  to  the  Candidate.— "My  dear  brother :— The  Saracens  having  taken  possession 
of  the  Holy  Land,  those  who  were  engaged  in  the  Crusades  not  being  able  io  expel  tijem, 
agreed  with  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  the  conductor  and  chief  of  the  Crusaders,  to  veil  the  mys- 
teries of  religion  under  emblems,  by  which  they  would  be  able  to  maintain  the  devotion  of 
the  soldier,  and  protect  themselves  from  the  incursion  of  those  who  were  their  enemies, 
after  the  example  of  the  Scriptures,  the  style  of  which  is  flgurailve  .  Those  zealous  brethren 
chose  Solomon's  temple  for  their  model.  This  building  has  strong  allusions  to  the  Christian 
church.  Since  that  period  they(MHS(>ns)  have  been  known  by  thename  of  Master  Architect; 
and  they  have  employed  themselves  in  Improving  the  law  of  that  admirable  Master.  From 
hence  it  appears  that  the  mysteries  of  the  craft  are  the  inysleries  of  [pagan]  religion.  Those 
brethren  were  careful  not  to  entrust  tbls  Important  sec  et  to  any  whose  discretion  I  hey  had 
not  proved.  For  this  reason  they  invented  different  degrees  to  try  those  who  entered  among 
them;  and  only  gave  them  symbolical  secrets,  without  explanation,  to  prevent  treaiheiy, 
and  to  make  themselves  known  only  to  each  other.  For  this  purpose  it  was  resolved  to  use 
different  signs,  words,  and  tokens,  in  evei-y  degree,  by  which  they  would  be  secured  against 
cowans  and  Saracens.  The  different  degrees  were  fixed  first  to  the  number  of  seven  by  the 
example  of  the  Grand  Architect  of  the  Universe,  who  built  all  things  in  six  days  and  rested 
on  the  seventh.  This  is  distinguished  by  seven  points  of  reception  in  the  Masier's  degree. 
Enoch  employed  six  days  to  construct  the  arches,  and  on  the  seventh,  having  deposited  the 
secret  treasure  in  the  lowest  arch,  was  translated  to  the  abodes  of  the  blessed.  Solomon 
employed  six  years  in  constructing  his  temple;  and  celebrated  its  dedication  on  the  seventh, 
witl.  all  the  solemnity  worthy  of  the  divinity  himself.  This  sacred  edifice  we  choose  to 
make  the  basis  of  figurative  Masonry.  In  the  first  degree  are  three  symbols  to  be  applied. 
First,  the  first  of  the  creation,  which  was  only  chaos,  is  figured  by  the  candidate's  Ci  mlng 
out  of  the  black  chamber,  neither  naked  nor  clothed,  deprived.  *c. ;  and  his  suffering  the 
painful  trial  at  his  reception,  &c.  The  candidate  sees  nothing  before  he  is  brought  to  light 
and  his  powers  of  imagination  relative  to  what  he  has  to  go  through  are  suspended,  which 
alludes  to  the  figure  of  the  creation  of  that  vast  luminous  body  confused  among  the  other 
parts  of  creation  before  it  was  extracted  from  darkness  and  fixed  by  the  Almighty  fiat. 
Secondly,  the  candidate  approaches  the  footstool  of  the  Master,  and  there  renounces  all 
cowans;  he  promises  to  subdue  his  passions,  by  which  means  he  is  united  to  virtue,  and 
by  his  regularity  of  life,  demonstrates  what  he  proposes.  This  is  figured  to  him  by  the  steps 
that  he  takes  in  approaching  the  altar;  the  symbolic  meaning  of  which  is  the  separation  of 
the  firmament  from  the  earth  and  water  on  the  second  day  of  creation.  (The  charge  pro- 
ceeds by  giving  a  figurative  interpretation  of  the  ceremonies,  &c.,  of  the  first  and  second 
part  of  the  third  degree  which  I  pass  over  as  not  interesting  to  my  readers,  and  commence 
with  an  interpretation  which  will  be  as  novel  to  the  Craft  of  the  lower  grades  as  to  the 
cowans,  or  non-initiated.) 

In  the  Master's  degree  is  represented  the  assassination  of  Hiram  by  false  brethren. 
This  ought  to  put  us  in  mind  of  the  fate  of  Adam,  occasioned  by  perverseness  in  his  dis- 
obeying his  great  and  awful  Creator.  The  symbolic  mystery  of  the  death  of  Hiram  AbilT re- 
presents to  us  that  of  tho  Messiah ;  for  the  thi  ee  blows  which  were  given  to  Hiram  Abiff,  at 
the  three  gates  of  the  temple,  allude  to  the  three  points  of  condemnation  against  Christ,  at 
the  illgh  Priest's  Caiphas,  Herod  and  Pilate.  It  was  from  the  last  that  he  was  led  to  that 
most  violent  and  exci  uciatiiig  death.  The  said  three  blows  with  the  square,  guage,  and 
gavel,  are  symbols  of  the  blow  on  the  cheek,  the  fiagellation,  and  the  crown  oi  thoi  ns.  'I  he 
brethren  assembled  around  the  tomb  of  Hiram,  is  a  representation  of  the  disciples  lament- 
ing the  death  of  Christ  on  the  cress.  The  Master's  word,  which  is  said  to  be  lost,  since  the 
death  of  Hiram  Abiff,  is  the  same  that  Christ  pronounced  on  the  cross,  and  which  the  Jews 
did  not  comprehend,  "  Ell,  Eli,  lama  sabacthanl,"  "  my  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  for- 


The  Practical  Woekings  of  Masonry,  etc.       573 

saken  me  [  have  pity  on  and  forgive  my  enemies"— Ins- tead  of  which  words  were  substituted 
M.  B.  N.  (Mac  be-nac,)  which,  In  Arabian,  signifies,  -"The  son  of  the  widow  Is  dead."  The 
false  brethren  represent  Judas  Iscariot,  who  sold  Christ.  The  red  collar  worn  by  the  Grand 
Elect  Perfect  and  Sublime  Masons,  calls  to  remembrance  the  blood  of  Christ.  The  sprig  of 
cassia  is  the  figure  ol  the  cross,  because  of  this  wood  was  the  cross  made.  The  captivity  of 
the  Grand  Elect  and  Sublime  Masons,  (i.  e.  by  the  Chaldeans,)  shows  us  the  persecution  of 
the  Christian  religion  under  the  Koman  emperors,  and  Its  liberty  under  Constantine  the 
Great.  It  al^'0  calls  to  our  remembrance  the  i)ersecution  of  the  Templars,  and  the  situation 
of  Jacques  iJe  Molay,  who,  lying  in  irons  nearly  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which  our  worthy 
Grand  Master  was  burnt  alive  with  his  four  companions,  on  the  eleventh  of  March,  1314, 
creating  pity  and  tears  in  the  people,  who  saw  him  die  with  firmness  and  heroic  constancy, 
sealing  his  innocence  with  his  blood.  My  dear  brother,  in  jiassing  to  the  degree  of  Perfect 
Master,  in  which  you  shed  tears  at  tho  tomb  of  Hiram  Abiff,  and  in  some  other  degrees  has 
not  your  heai't  been  led  to  revenge?  Has  not  the  crime  of  Jubelum  Akirop  been  represented 
in  the  most  hide  ms  light  ?— Would  it  be  unjust  to  compare  the  conduct  of  Philip  the  Fairto 
his.  and  the  infamous  accuseis  of  the  Templars,  to  the  two  ruffians  who  were  accomplices 
with  Akirop?  Ijo  they  not  kindle  in  your  heart  an  equal  aversion?  'I  he  different  stages 
you  have  traveled,  and  the  time  j'ou  have  taken  in  learning  these  historical  events,  no 
doubt,  will  lead  you  to  make  the  projier  applications;  and  by  the  degree  of  Master  iilect 
and  Kadosh,  you  are  projierly  disposed  to  fulfil  all  your  engagements,  and  to  bear  an  im- 
placable hatred  to  the  Knights  of  Malta,  and  to  avenge  the  death  of  Jacques  De  Molay. 
Your  extensive  acquaintance  with  symbolic  Masonry,  which  you  have  attained  by  your  dis- 
cretion, leaves  you  nothing  more  to  desire  here.  You  see,  my  dear  brother,  how,  and  by 
whom.  Masonry  has  come  to  us.  You  are  to  endeavor  by  every  jiist  means  to  regain  our 
rights  and  to  remember  that  we  are  joined  by  a  society  of  men,  whose  courage,  mt-rit  and 
good  conduct,  hold  out  to  us  that  rank  that  birth  alone  gave  to  our  ancestors.  You  are  now 
on  the  same  level  with  them.  Avoid  every  evil  by  keeping  your  obligations,  and  carefully 
concealfrom  the  vulg«r  what  you  are,  and  wait  that  happy  moment  when  we  all  shall  be 
reunited  under  the  same  Sovereign  in  the  mansions  of  eternal  bliss  Let  us  Imitate  the 
esampleof  our  Grand  Master,  Jacques  de  Molay,  who  to  the  end  put  his  hope  In  God,  and 
at  his  last  dying  moments  ended  his  life  saying,  "  Spes  mea  in  Deo  est  I" 

Obligation.— I  do,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord.  In  the  presence  of  the  Grand  Architect 
of  the  Universe,  and  this  consistoiT  of  Sovereign  Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret,  or  Knights  of 
St.  Andrew,  faithful  guardians  of  the  faithful  treasure;  most  solemnly  vow  and  swear,  under 
all  the  different  penaltit  8  of  my  former  obligations,  that  I  will  never  directly  or  indirectly 
reveal  or  make  Unown  to  any  per-on  or  jersons  whatsoever,  any  or  the  le  st  pait  of  this 
Koyal  de.  ree,  unle-^s  to  one  duly  qualified  In  the  body  of  a  regularly  constituted  Consistory 
of  the  same,  or  to  him  or  them  whom  I  shall  find  such  after  strict  and  due  trial.  I  further- 
more viiw  and  swear,  under  the  above  penalties,  to  always  abide  and  regulate  myself  agree- 
ably to  the  statutes  and  regulations  now  before  me ;  and  when  in  a  Consistory  to  bf  have  and 
demean  myself  as  one  worthy  of  being  honored  with  so  high  a  degree,  that  no  part  of  my 
conduct  may  In  the  least  refiect  discredit  on  the  Koyal  Consistory,  or  ditgra<e  myself,  bo 
may  God  maintain  mo  In  equity  and  justice  1    AmenI    Amsnl    Amenl    Amen! 

N'oio  cannot  anybody  see  that  a  person  under  any  such  supreme  obligation 
to  his  clan,  order,  or  gang,  is  unfit  to  hold  any  public  office !  And  that 
the  further  he  is  advanced  in  masonry  the  more  dangerous  he  is? 

*  * 
* 

Aot5  such  as  this  ake  its  Fkuits. 

"Besides  the  bones  cliscovered  at  Bhie  Mountain,  as  detailed  else- 
where in  these  columns,  we  are  informed  that  a  lot  were  also  found  above 
Pendleton,  a  short  time  ago.  Many  a  poor  devil  has  been  knocked  on  thf 
head,  in  this  country,  and  then  stowed  aicay  under  ground,  iHthout  anybody 

being  the  wiser." 

*  * 
* 

A  Chapter  in  American  Politics. 

From  the  Leaders  of  the  Past,  to  those  of  the  Present. 

George  Washington's  Farewell  Address. — "The  very  idea  of  the  power 
and  the  nght  of  the  people  to  establisli  government  i>re-sui)poses  the  dtitj 
of  every  indi\'idual  to  obey  the  established  government.  All  obstiiictions 
to  the  execution  of  the  laws,  all  combinations  and  associations,  under 
whatever  plausible  character,  with  the  real  design  to  direct,  conti'ol, 
counteract,  or  awe  the  regular  deliberation  and  action  of  the  constituted 
authorities,  are  destructive  of  this  fuudameut^al  i)rinciple,  and  of  fatal 
tendencv." 


574       The  Practical  "Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 


TJiaddeus  Stevens :  "By  Freemasonr\%  trial  by  jury  is  transformed 
into  an  engine  of  despotism  and  Masonic  fraiid." 

E(/iriird  Evi'retl :  "A  secret  society  so  widely  diffused  and  connected 
as  this  puts  a  vast  power,  capable  of  the  most  dangerous  abuse,  into  hands 
irresponsible  to  the  public." 

Chief  Jxatice  John  Mdmhrdl:  "The  institution  of  masonry  ought  to 
be  abandoned  as  one  capable  of  much  evil  and  incapable  of  i^roducing  any 
good  which  might  not  be  effected  by  safe  and  open  means." 

Chtrles  Sumner :  "I  find  two  powers  here  in  Washingion  in  harmony, 
and  both  are  antagonistical  to  our  free  institutions,  and  tend  to  centraliza- 
tion and  anar'^-hy — Freemasonry  and  slavery  ;  and  they  must  both  be  de- 
stroved  if  our  country  is  to  be  the  home  of  the  free,  as  our  ancestors  de- 
signed it." 

Thin-low  Weed:  "I  now  look  back  through  an  interval  of  fifty-six 
years  with  a  conscious  sense  of  having  been  governed  through  the  Anti- 
masonic  excitement  by  a  sincere  desire,  first  to  vindicate  the  violated  laws 
of  my  country,  and  next  to  arrest  the  gi-eat  power  and  dangerous  influ- 
ences of  secret  societies. " 

William  H.  Seward:  "Before  I  would  place  my  hand  between  the 
hands  of  other  men  in  a  secret  lodge,  order,  class,  or  council,  and,  bending 
on  mv  knee  before  them,  enter  into  combination  with  them  for  any  object, 
personal  or  political,  good  or  bad,  I  would  pray  to  God  that  that  hand 
and  that  knee  might  be  paralyzed,  and  that  I  might  become  an  object  of 
pity  and  even  the  mockery  of  my  fellow-men. " 

Wendell  Phillips:  "History  shows  them  perverting  justice,  stopping 
at  no  crime  to  protect  and  conceal  their  mummeries  ;  controlling  politics 
for  selfish  and  personal  ends,  and  interfering  with  great  danger  in  national 
emergencies.  Every  good  citizen  should  make  war  on  all  secret  societies, 
and  give  himself  no  rest  until  they  are  forbidden  by  law  and  rooted  out  of 
existence.'' 

George  Washingion,  to  friends  in  1794,  quoted  hy  Myron  Holley :  "  The 
real  people  occasionally  assembled  in  order  to  express  their  sentiments  on 
political  sentiments,  ought  never  to  be  confounded  with  permanent,  selt- 
appointed  societies,  usurping  the  right  to  control  constituted  authorities, 
and  to  dictate  to  pubhc  opinion.  While  the  former  was  entitled  to  re- 
spect, the  latter  was  incompatible  with  all  government,  and  must  either 
sink  into  general  dis-esteem,  or  finally  overturn  the  estabhshed  order  of 
things." 

General  U.  S.  Grant:  "All  secret,  oath-bound  political  parties  are 
dangerous  to  any  nation,  no  matter  how  pure  or  how  patriotic  the  motives 
and  principles  which  first  bring  them  together." 

President  Millard  Fihnore,  J.  G.  Spencer,  and  others  :  "The  Masonic 
fraternity  tramples  upon  our  rights,  defeats  the  administration  of  justice, 
and  bids  defiance  to  every  government  which  it  cannot  control." 

John  Quincy  Adams:  "I  am  prejjaredto  complete  the  demonstration 
before  God  and  man,  that  the  Masonic  oaths,  obhgations  and  penalties 
cannot  by  any  possibility  be  reconciled  to  the  laws  of  morality,  of  Christ- 
ianity, or  of  the  land. " 

Disraeli,  Lord  Beaconsfield:  "In  conducting  the  governments  of  the 
world  there  are  not  only  sovereigns  and  ministers,  but  secret  orders  to  be 
considered,  which  have  agents  everywhere — reckless  agents,  who  counte- 
nance assassination,  and  if  necessary  can  produce  a  massacre." 

A.  M.  Sullivan,  Irish  Leader:  "  I  had  not  studied  in  vain  the  secret, 
oath-bound  associations.  I  regarded  them  with  horror.  I  knew  all  that 
could  be  said  as  to  their  advantages  in  revolutionizing  a  country,  but  even 


The  Peactical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       575 


in  the  firmest  and  best  of  hands  they  had  a  direct  tendency  to  demoraliza- 
tion and  are  often  on  the  whole  more  perilous  to  society  than  open  ty- 
ranny." 

Hon.  Edward  Blake,  leader  in  Canadian  Parliament,  March,  1884: 
"  I  am  not  in  favor  of  State  recognition  of  any  secret  societies.  I  have 
never  joined  one,  though  many  of  my  best  friends  are  members  of  secret 
societies.  Biit  I  beheve  the  tendency  of  secrecy  itself  to  be  injurious.  I 
believe  that  it  brings  with  it  the  possibihty  of  e\'il;  I  beheve  that  it  involves 
a  certain  amount  of  sacrifice  of  individuality  and  independence,  and  gives 

very  great  facilities  for  the  misleading  of  members  by  designing  leaders 

very  great  and  mischievous  facilities  for  that  purijose.  I  beheve  that  a 
great  deal  of  the  trouble,  social  and  iJohtical,  that  has  occurred  in  those 
countries  [Europe  and  America]  is  due  to  secret  societies." 

General  Washington  opposed  to  Secret  Societies :  This  is  a  republication 
of  Governor  Joseph  Kitner's  "  Vindication  of  General  Washington  from  the 
Stigma  of  Adherence  to  Secret  Societies,"  communicated  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  Pennsylvania,  March  8th,  1837,  at  their  sjiecial  request. 
To  this  is  added  the  fact  that  three  high  Masons  were  the  only  persons  who 

opposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Washington  on  his  retirement  to  private  hfe 

undoubtedly  because  they  considered  him  a  seceding  Freemason.  Ten 
cents  each  ;  per  dozen,  75  cents. — American  Anti-secrecy  League,  221  West 
Madison  Street,  Chicago. 

*  * 

* 

Rae  says  :  "It  was  difficult  to  believe  that  they  were  simple  citizens 
of  the  repubHc,  so  grand  was  their  appearance,  and  so  proud  did  they 
seem  of  their  new  clothes.  As  a  rule,  there  is  no  more  soberly  dressed 
person  than  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  A  isaternal  Congress  has  for- 
bidden a  ci\dhan  to  indulge  in  the  vanity  known  as  court  costume,  and  has 
enjoined  that  when  he  attends  a  foreign  court  he  shall  wear  ordinary  even- 
ing dress.  No  restriction,  however,  is  put  upon  the  citizen  donning  any 
kind  of  mihtary  uniform  he  pleases,  and  this  is  said  to  be  one  of  the 
reasons  why  the  order  of  Knights  Templar  is  attractive  and  poj^ular  in  the 
United  States.  Its  members  have  the  further  gratification  of  reading 
their  names,  with  handles  to  them,  in  the  newsjiapers  ;  and  when  jjlaiu 
Brown,  Jones,  and  Bobinson  see  themselves  in  jjrint  as  Sir  John  Brown, 
Sir  Thomas  Jones,  Sir  JosejDh  Robinson,  they  may  experience  the  satis- 
faction of  men  who  have  made  their  mark. 

Till  I  beheld  the  Knights  Templar,  I  had  never  realized  the  effect 
produced  by  entire  regiments  clad  in  the  uniforms  of  general  officers  of 
the  Grand  Duchy  of  Gerolstein.  With  cocked  hats  adorned  with  feathers 
upon  their  heads,  embroidered  trousers  upon  their  legs,  tunics  round  their 
bodies,  their  breasts  being  as  thickly  covered  Avith  ribbons  and  medals  as 
the  breasts  of  officers  in  the  service  of  the  Prince  of  Monaco,  and  with 
swords  in  their  hands  resembhng  the  toy  swords  of  children,  these  Sir 
Knights  aijpeared  to  the  simijle-minded  a  sjilendid  siiectacle,  and  to  the 
critic  a  set  of  guys." 

What  ake  Highbinders  ? 

"The  bloody  conflict  lately  enacted  between  rival  highbinder  societies 
in  this  city,  resulting  in  the  death  of  three  Chinamen  and  the  serious 
wounding  of  two  more,  has  given  rise  to  considerable  discussion  as  to  who 
the  highbinders  are,  what  they  are,  and  the  best  methods  to  be  employed 
to  break  up  their  organizations,  and  by  that  to  jjut  an  end  to  their  nefari- 
ous practices. 

The  term  highbinder  really  has  no  place  in  the  English  language.  The 
dictionary  and  encyclopedia  both  fail  to  recognize  it.     It  is  a  term  hke 


576       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

luau  J  others  in  the  English  language,  colloquialized,  and  has  acquired  a 
standing  through  custom  and  usage.  It  is  a  conventional  term,  the  same 
as  "hobo,"  "hoodlum,"  and  many  others  that  have  acquired  a  signifi- 
cance through  a  sijecific  designation  of  some  peculiar  attribute  of  a  general 
class. 

As  near  as  can  be  learned,  the  term  first  came  into  practice  on  this 
coast  some  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago.  It  -was  apjiUed  to  those  contend- 
ing factions  among  the  Chinese  denizens  of  San  Francisco  who  were  known 
to  make  a  living  off'  the  earnings  of  others,  generally  from  the  fruits  of 
illegitimate  business.  Just  how  the  term  originated  is  not  known.  The 
business  of  levying  on  the  fruits  of  others'  labor  was  done  under  a  guise 
of  gi\'ing  protection  and  encouraging  immunity  from  punishment.  These 
Mongolian  vampires,  who,  when  organized,  corresponded  in  a  certain 
sense  to  the  corrupt  pohtical  cHques  of  this  country,  were  designated  as 
highbinders.  Bulldozing  is  the  fundamental  essence  and  life  principle  of 
both  organizations.  Chinese  highbinders  are  in  reaUty  a  modified  species 
of  pirates.  Instead,  however,  of  asserting  their  supremacy,  as  do  the 
jjirates  on  the  open  seas,  in  open  conflict,  they  show  theii*  prowess  in  cun- 
ning deception,  bulldozing,  intimidations  and  threats." 

HIGHBIKDEKS  IN   CHINA. 

In  China  the  class  of  people  answering  to  organizations  of  Highbind- 
ers in  this  country  are  known  by  the  name  of  Hung  Tow  or  Tung  Ho. 
They  are  not  legal  organizations,  but  are  under  the  ban  of  the  govern- 
ment. If  a  highbinder  organization  is  discovered  death  stares  the  mem- 
bers in  the  face.  The  Chinese  authorities  are  very  strict,  and  under  no 
consideration  are  secret  societies  of  any  kind  allowed  to  exist.  Discovery 
is  met  with  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law — death.  An  organization  of 
the  nature  of  highbinders  is  looked  upon  as  a  consj^iracy,  and  death  is 
the  jjenalty  of  those  gathered  in  secret  conclave. 

In  China,  as  in  this  country,  the  highbinders  hold  the  same  relations 
to  society.  There  are  at  least  200  Kwong  Hong  or  family  branches  in 
China.  These  branches  occassionally  organize  highbinder  societies  be- 
tween themselves.  Every  one  is  eligible  to  join  any  of  these  societies. 
All  that  is  needed  is  for  a  person  to  have  the  necessary  instincts  of  a  scoun- 
drel and  he  is  at  once  received  into  full  fellowshijj  into  any  of  their 
orders.  These  societies,  whenever  for  any  reason  they  are  not  discovered, 
live  off  the  community,  the  same  as  a  [Mason]  does  in  this  country.  They 
hve  by  bulldozing  and  by  exacting  subsidies  under  threats.  They  live  by 
smuggling,  stealing,  and  even  kilhng  for  pay.  They  live  by  all  means 
that  are  illegal,  and  no  means  that  are  just. 

HOW  SUPPRESSED. 

There  are  no  longer  many  highbinder  societies  in  China,  while  out- 
bursts of  riots  between  rival  organizations  are  of  very  rare  occurrence. 
The  reason  is  the  extreme  severity  used  in  punishing  those  who  are  appre- 
hended. If  the  existence  of  a  highbinder  society  is  made  known  to  the 
authorities,  the  ringleaders  are  generally  beheaded. 

In  China  a  man  may  smuggle  and  his  opium  is  confiscated  ;  he  may 
steal  and  he  is  ijublicly  flogged.  He  may  at  times  even  commit  more 
serious  crimes  and  escape  with  comparatively  hght  imnishment.  But  let 
a  man  conduct  a  secret  meeting  and  he  is  denied  even  a  jirehminary  exam- 
ination before  a  mandarin.  He  is  beheaded  without  further  ado.  If  the 
guilty  are  not  found  out,  the  innocent  are  executed  with  them,  for  the  guilt 
is  atoned  for  at  any  price,  though  innocent  lives  be  sacrificed.  The  end  is 
calculated  to  justify  the  means.     Generally,  however,  the  names  of  the 


■^"ERSIT 


The  Pkactical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       577 

guilty  parties  are  given  up  without  interference.  If  for  any  reason  the 
guilty  parties  in  any  crime  committed  are  not  given  uj),  the  authorities 
arrest  one  prominent  member  of  each  comijauy,  and,  as  a  general  rule, 
the  desired  information  is  soon  forthcoming.  If  these  leaders  still  refuse 
to  disclose  the  names  of  the  guilty  parties  in  a  transaction,  the  law  meets 
its  end  by  executing  those  leaders  who  are  arrested. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  there  are  but  few  riots  now  occasioned  in  China 
through  the  existence  of  highbinder  societies.  This  jieaceable,  quiet  state 
of  affairs  in  a  country  which  numbers  her  population  by  the  millions, 
must  be  attributed  to  the  stringent  laws  against  carrying  weapons  and 
against  aiding  or  abetting  in  holding  a  meeting  of  a  highbinder  or  other 
secret  society. 

HIGHBINDEKS  IN  THIS   COUNTKY. 

When  the  Chinamen  came  to  this  country  many  of  their  passions 
suppressed  in  their  own  flowery  kingdom,  found  an  oi^ijortunity  for  ex- 
pansion. This  was  a  free  country,  and  the  laws  were  made  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  an  enlightened  civilization.  The  Chinese  had  been  ruled  with 
an  iron  hand,  and  what  wonder  is  there  that  they  should  tend  towards 
extremes  when  this  restraint  is  removed  ?  Our  laws  in  the  United  States 
were  made  to  govern  citizens  of  this  country,  and  citizens  of  this  country 
are  supposed  to  have  reached  a  stage  in  civilization  where  democrafec  laws 
are  sufficient  for  them.  The  Chinese  coming  here  are  evidently  not  made 
for  our  civiHzation,  for  they  abuse  its  privileges.  The  laws  are  made  for 
enlightened  people,  and  cannot  fit  a  semi-barbaric  contingency.  If  a  for- 
eign element  cannot  be  assimilated  into  the  body  politic  of  the  countiy 
and  adopt  its  rules  and  regulations,  it  becomes  very  evident  that  that  for- 
eign element  cannot  exist  in  the  country  unless  there  be  particular  laws 
enacted  to  govern  the  people  somewhat  according  to  their  requirements. 
This  is  exactly  the  reason  highbinder  societies  have  flourished  in  this 
country.  By  the  silence  and  indifference  of  the  authorities  here  the 
Chinese  highbinder  societies  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  if  they  are 
not  exactly  coui'ted,  they  are  at  least  tolerated  and  ajsproved. 

MIXED   UP  AS   USUAL. 

As  is  always  the  case  in  rows  among  the  Chinese  it  is  very  difficult 
to  get  any  information  as  to  the  cause  of  the  trouble.  The  statements  of 
the  class  of  Chinese  who  are  mixed  up  in  such  affairs  is  not  to  be  rehed 
on,  and  even  the  dying  statement  of  one  of  these  highbinders  is  as  likely 
to  be  false  as  true. 

The  leading  Chinamen  of  this  city  are  all  very  much  wrought  wp  over 
this  conflict.  None  have  any  sympathies  with  the  murderers  if  they  can 
be  found  out. 

"The  laws  in  this  country,"  said  one,  "are  altogether  to  lax  for  the 
Chinamen.  This  fight  is  a  natural  outcome  of  the  leniency  shown  the 
Chinese  murderers  in  the  county  jail.  The  Chinamen  have  no  fear  for 
the  law  and  think  that  they  can  buy  their  freedom  if  they  have  plenty  of 
money.  No  such  highbinder  societies  are  allowed  in  China.  If  there  are 
any  secret  organizations  of  any  kind  discovered  in  China  they  are  more 
summarily  dealt  with.  If  the  English  authorities  find  them  out  the 
Chinamen  are  either  imprisoned  for  life  or  shot,  and  if  the  Chinese  gov- 
ernment makes  the  discovery  the  Chinamen's  heads  are  cut  off  foi'th'witli. 
There  is  not  even  the  formality  of  a  trial  given  them." 

. .  .  .Another  one  said  that  the  murderers  of  these  Chinamen  will  never 
be  found  out  unless  one  of  the  Chinese  comi^anies  i)rosecute  the  case. 
"The  Chinamen  know  who  the  guilty  ones  are,  but  will  not  tell,"  he  said. 
"  The  city  authorities  ought  to  send  eight  or  ten  policemen  to  make  a 

37 


578       The  Practical  "Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

thorough  search  of  Chinatown.  There  are  still  quite  a  number  of 
wounded  Chinamen  hidden  and  if  they  are  not  soon  hunted  up  they  will 
either  sneak  out  of  town  or  get  well  without  medical  attendance.  The 
city  is  not  taking  the  right  jjosition  in  allowing  the  matter  to  rest  as  it  now 
stands.  The  guilty  parties  should  be  ferretted  out  and  if  this  is  impossi- 
ble, those  who  stand  in  with  them  should  be  hung  Avith  the  susi^ected 
ones,  in  order  to  make  an  example  of  them  if  to  no  other  end." 

A  third  Chinaman  said  that  the  Chinese  societies  can  tell  who  every 
guilty  party  in  this  late  bloody  transaction  is,  and  furthermore  they  can 
be  made  to  tell  if  the  authorities  go  at  them  in  the  right  way.  "The 
Chinese  are  allowed  too  many  liberties.  All  highbinder  societies  should  be 
broken  up,  and  the  poUce  authorities  must  be  more  stringent  if  the  com- 
launity  desires  to  have  no  recuiTence  of  such  a  bloody  fight." 

"  HIGHBINDER   SOCIETIES  MUST  DISBAND. 

Mayor  DeLashmutt  and  Chief  of  Police  Parrish  had  a  conference  with 
the  leading  Chinese  merchants,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  their  assistance 
in  bringing  the  guilty  Chinese  to  justice,  and  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of 
such  conflicts.  As  a  result  of  this  conference  the  Chinese  business  men 
and  merchants  will  unite  and  give  the  authorities  every  assistance  in^  their 
power  to  accomplish  the  work  of  breaking  up  all  highbinder  societies. 
The  name  of  every  highbinder  society  with  its  location  were  given  Chief 
Parrish  and  the  war  of  extermination  will  soon  commence.  The  China- 
men are  all  agreed  that  active  steps  should  be  taken  at  once.  Notices  will 
be  posted  on  every  door  of  these  highbinder  headquarters  ordering  them 
to  disband  within  five  days.  If  this  order  is  not  obeyed  within  the  speci- 
fied five  days,  if  every  sign  is  not  taken  down  from  their  headquarters  and 
every  other  evidence  of  the  existence  of  these  societies  destroyed,  the  law 
will  take  its  course.  The  poHce  will  commence  to  arrest  every  highbinder 
in  the  city.  The  names  will  be  furnished  by  this  protective  organization 
of  Chinese  business  men  and  there  will  thus  be  no  chance  for  any  to  es- 
cape detection. 

The  black  list  will  be  made  out  at  once,  and  every  highbinder  will  be 
placed  behind  prison  bars.  This  course  of  action  has  received  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  leading  Chinese  merchants  and  there  will  be  no  difficulties  en- 
countered in  carrying  it  into  execution." 

*  -x- 

* 

"  As  a  reporter  of  The  Oregonian  was  passing  through  the  county  jail 
yesterday,  Mah  Jim,  the  Chinaman  under  sentence  of  death  for  killing  Ah 
Toy  in  the  Chinese  Free  Mason's  hall  some  six  months  ago,  hailed  him. 
Mah  Jim  began  by  saying  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  kilhng  Ah  Toy,  but 
was  the  victim  of  a  conspiracy  hatched  by  his  enemies  to  get  him  out  of 
the  way. 

"  Did  you  not  serve  a  term  in  the  penitentiary  ?  "  asked  the  reporter. 

"Yes,"  said  Jim. 

"  How  long  were  you  there  ?  " 

"  About  six  months,"  answered  Jim. 

"  Well,  how  did  it  all  come  about  ?    What  was  you  sent  up  for  ?  " 

'•For  larceny.  I  worked  for  Quon  Wo  Wa,  on  Oak  street,  while  they 
were  sending  gangs  of  Chinamen  up  on  the  railroad  to  Tom  and  Jim 
Filliken.  You  sabe  ;  some  Chinamen  can't  talk  Enghsh,  and  I  talked  for 
them  and  told  them  where  to  go.  I  was  to  get  ^2.50  a  day,  but  as  I  didn't 
get  my  money  I  sued  Lee  Sang,  of  the  Quon  Wo  Wa  company,  in  Justice 
Greene's  court,  for  $170.  At  the  same  time  a  job  was  put  up  on  me— that 
I  stole  some  clothes — and  I  was  sent  up." 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        579 


"What  was  the  job  put  xip  for  ?  " 

"  Because  I  sued  for  the  money." 

"And  why  do  they  accuse  you  of  this  murder  ?  " 

' '  When  I  got  out  I  took  the  suit  to  the  state  circuit  court  and  ob- 
tained a  judgment  for  $75,  but  I  didn't  make  anything  as  the  lawyer  took 
itaU." 

Mah  Jim  then  went  on  to  say  that  Lee  Sang,  the  man  he  had  sued, 
was  all  broke  up,  owed  everybody,  and  he  had  been  threatened,  provided  he 
took  legal  recourse  against  him.  "  I  belonged  to  the  Chinese  Free  Masons 
for  six  or  seven  years.  They  are  all  the  same  as  highbinders  ;  all  like 
brothers  together.  If  a  man  is  killed  and  they  don't  want  it  known  none 
of  them  will  say  a  word  about  it.  Mah  Jim  said  two  head  men  of  the 
Masons  and  particular  friends  of  the  man  against  whom  he  prosecuted 
the  suit,  put  up  the  job  accusing  him  of  being  the  murderer  and  that  they 
agreed  to  pay  Pow  ChinWah,the  principle  witness  against  him,  $50  to  swear 
that  he  killed  Ah  Toy,  $200  if  he  (Jim)  vv^as  sent  to  the  penitentiary,  and 
$300  if  he  was  hanged.  Further,  that  everybody  who  knew  him  well 
had  a  good  opinion  of  him,  and  that  he  had  more  friends  among  the  white 
people  than  among  his  own  countrymen." 


Highbinders  in  Los  Angelos. 
Prizes  set  on  the  heads  of  iico  Chinamen  and  a  White  man. 

"  If  left  to  settle  itself  Chinatown  will  undoubtedly  solve  the  problem 
of  its  own  existence  without  the  aid  of  any  boycott.  The  slumbering  vol- 
cano of  internecine  strife  occasionally  emits  its  deadly  odors.  All  is  not 
unity,  harmony  and  love  within  the  Chinese  camp.  Its  coolies  belong  to 
different  comijanies,  whose  fierce  struggle  for  supremacy  and  the  lion's 
share  of  the  wages  of  their  slaves  is  a  fit  sample  of  the  struggle  of  the  sur- 
vival of  the  fittest.  Each  company  takes  care  of  the  rehgion,  social  pleas- 
ures and  physical  comforts  of  its  membei-s.  Each  company  has  its  own 
joss  house,  its  tan  game  and  its  highbinder  society,  which  the  Chinese  call 
a  '  Freemason  lodge.'  When  the  lynx-eyed  highbinders  of  the  Wong  com- 
pany see  the  members  of  the  Chung  Wo  Company  robbing  at  a  tan  game 
some  poor  devil  of  a  coohe  fresh  from  a  Washhouse  or  an  orange  orchard, 
they  inform  the  officers,  and  the  latter  make  a  raid,  and  the  Chung  Wo 
men,  if  captured,  have  to  pay  roundly  for  their  fun.  They  then  come 
back  on  to  the  Wong  Company  when  they  are  fleecing  a  gi-een  countryman, 
and  so  bad  blood  has  been  developed  between  the  companies  till  every 
Chinaman  goes  armed  with  a  revolver,  which  he  is  ready  to  draw  and  shoot 
on  the  slightest  provocation,  as  the  row  last  night  shows.  The  Wong  and 
Chung  Wo  companies  are  ready  to  fight  for  the  least  cause  now.  This 
was  the  exact  status  before  the  big  Chinese  riot  of  1871,  when  eighteen  or 
more  Chinamen  were  killed,  and  these  are  the  same  causes  which  led  to 
that  riot,  by  exciting  the  ira  of  the  lower  class  of  the  Caucasians  and 
Indians,  who  shed  their  blood. 

Last  Sunday  the  highbinders  of  the  Wong  Company,  on  solenan  con- 
clave, set  prices  on  the  heads  of  several  Chinamen,  including  Ah  Jim  and 
another  Chinaman,  for  $800  for  each  head.  The  price  of  $1,200  was  set 
on  the  head  of  Charles  Newberg,  who  inhabits  Chinatown  more  or  less, 
and  who  learned  to  speak  the  Chinese  language  in  Hongkong,  where  he 
was  bom,  while  his  father  was  there  in  the  merchandise  business.  This 
appalling  state  of  affairs  was  revealed  to  the  officers  on  last  Monday,  but 
they  regarded  it  as  a  stupid  tale  till  the  events  of  last  evening  in  the 
attempted  assassination  of  Ah  Jim  on  Negro  alley  confirmed  the  reports. 


580  The  Practical  "Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 


During  the  attemi^t  of  the  officers  to  make  a  raid  ou  a  tan  game  on 
Negro  alley,  about  7  o'clock  Tuesday  evening,  a  shooting  scrajje  occun-ed 
in  which  several  Chinamen  were  shot." 


"  The  police  learned  of  the  murder;  they  could  get  nothing  but  the 
bare  facts.  Not  one  of  the  per23etrators  of  the  crime  was  caught,  as  no 
one  would  give  any  information  for  fear  of  incurring  the  revenge  of  the 
society.  The  same  thing  has  occiirred  so  frequently  in  this  city  that  it 
is  in  the  nature  of  a  miracle  when  crime  in  Chinatown  is  discovered 
and  punished. 

Measukes  Against  Highbindeks. 

Last  Friday  evening  the  Mayor  and  Chief  of  Police  being  informed 
that  the  highbinders'  societies  were  disposed  to  resist  the  order  for  clos- 
ing them,  started  out,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Officer  Watson  closed 
lip  nine  of  these  rendezvous.  The  signs  of  the  societies  were  torn  down, 
and  their  emblematic  ornaments,  little  josses,  bowls  of  sandalwood  and 
other  imi^lements  with  which  they  solemnize  their  secret  obligations, 
were  taken  down  and  locked  up. 

The  mayor  has  further  instructed  Chief  Parrish  that  this  measure 
must  be  thoroughly  prosecuted. 

The  mayor  is  thoroughly  aroused  in  the  matter,  and  has  the  active 
and  earnest  sujjport  of  all  the  police  force,  and  the  approval  of  not 
only  the  whites,  but  the  better  class  of  the  Chinese  merchants.  The 
outlook  is  most  encouraging  for  a  complete  break-up  of  this  organized 
menace  to  good  government. 

[Bid  say,  why  not  also  break  up  the  other  masonic  ^^  menace  to  good  gov- 
ernment ?  "] 

CoiiOKED  Masons. 
"In  California,  as  well  as  in  every  State  in  the  union,  the  colored 
Masons  are  a  separate  and  distinct  organization  from  those  of  Caucasian 
origin.  The  sovereign  grand  lodge  of  Cahforuia,  which  recently  held 
its  session  in  Stockton,  was  without  a  single  white  rejiresentative.  Out- 
siders sometimes  consider  it  rather  singular  that  masonry,  which  professes 
not  to  regard  the  outside  quahfications  of  men,  should  be  opposed  to 
recognizing  colored  men  as  brothers.  The  reason  for  this,  however,  is 
found  in  the  fact  that  the  negroes  secured  their  charter  and  ritual  from 
England.  On  this  account  American  lodges  refuse  to  recognize  them. 
In  the  South  this  alienation  is  carried  to  the  extreme.  During  the  war 
a  Southern  man's  house  was  foraged  by  some  Northern  soldiers,  among 
them  being  a  sergeant,  an  ex-slave,  and  as  black  as  midnight.  The 
soldiers  sUpped  a  noose  over  the  Southerner's  head  aud  demanded  to  know 
where  he  had  hidden  his  silver  and  gold.  He  declined  to  teH.  "I'll 
never  tell,"  he  said.  They  threw  the  rope  over  a  limb,  jerked  him  into 
the  air  and  tied  him  up  to  die.  Unable  to  speak,  he  made  a  certain 
masonic  sign  aud  the  negro  sergeant  sprang  forward  and  undid  the 
rope.  When  the  power  of  speech  returned  to  the  half-choked  man  he 
looked  into  the  face  of  his  deliverer,  and  still  without  recognizing  him 

masonically,  asked,  with  incredible  astonishment:     "What  in  the  

did  you  know  about  that  sign  '? "  The  ex-slave  answered  :  "You  need 
not  iiold  masonic  converse  with  me  unless  you  so  desire,  but  nothing 
can  prevent  me  from  doing  my  duty  to  all  Masons  under  the  Sun." 

\They  all  affiliate,  black,  white,  andyellou',  and  this  was  one  of  the  "  char- 
itable "  (?)  brethren  that  u'ould  murder  an  outsidei'  in  cold  blood  for  a  little 
m,oney.  ] 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       581 


An  Addbess  Issued  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  Fakmers'  Congress. 

"Tliat  all  men  and  women  are  equally  endowed  by  their  creator  with 
the  inalienable  nght  to  the  possession  and  enjoyment  of  whatever  wealth 
they  produce.  That  to  secure,  among  others,  this  right  inviolate  to  all 
citizens,  governments  are  rightfully  established  among  men.  That  when 
governments,  laws  or  systems  become  destx'uctive  to  these  rights  or  fail  to 
secure  them  to  the  peojile  it  is  their  right  and  imjierative  duty  to  them- 
selves and  their  posterity  to  alter  and  abolish  such  government,  repeal 
such  laws  and  destroy  such  systems.  That  the  agricultural  masses  of  the 
United  States  have  not  for  years  been  and  are  not  now  secure  in  the 
jDossession  and  enjoyment  of  the  vast  wealth  which  by  unfaltering  industry 
they  have  created.  To  prove  these  declarations  let  unimpeached  statistical 

facts  be  submitted  to  your  candid,  considerate,  unbiased  judgment 

We  have  brought  forth  facts  which  show  that  the  agricultural 

population  is  rapidly  and  surely  bemg  reduced  to  abject  serfdom.  Facts 
which  show  that  if  we  wish  to  be  free,  and  the  owners  of  free  homes,  there 
is  now  an  imi^erious  necessity  demanding  the  organization  of  the  agricul- 
tural masses,  to  defend  for  themselves,  each  other  and  their  children  the 
right  to  what  they  produce,  the  title  to  their  homes,  and  the  secure  enjoy- 
ment of  their  firesides. 

By  order  of  the  executive  committee."  — Oregon. 

From  a  President's  Message. 

"The  equal  and  exact  justice  of  which  we  boast  as  the  underlying 
jsrinciple  of  our  institutions  should  not  be  confined  to  the  relations  of  our 
citizens  to  each  other.  The  government  itself  is  under  bond  to  the  Ameri- 
can people  that  in  the  exercise  of  its  functions  and  powers  it  will  deal  with 
the  body  of  our  citizens  in  a  manner  scrupulously  honest  and  fair,  and 
absolutely  just.  It  has  agreed  that  American  citizenship  shall  be  the  only 
credential  necessary  to  jiastify  the  claim  of  equahty  before  the  law,  and 
that  no  condition  in  life  shall  give  rise  to  discrimination  in  the  treatment 
of  the  people  by  this  government. 

The  citizen  of  our  rej)ubhc,  in  its  early  days,  rigidly  insisted  upon  full 
compliance  Tsdth  the  letter  of  this  bond,  and  saw  stretching  out  before  him 

a  clear  field  for  individual  endeavor Hundreds  of  private 

pension  laws  are  anniially  passed  which  are  the  sources  of  unjust  discrimi- 
nation and  popular  demoralization. 

Approi^riation  bills  for  the  support  of  the  government  are  defaced  by 
items  and  provisions  to  meet  private  ends,  and  it  is  freely  asserted  by  re- 
sponsible and  experienced  parties  that  a  bill  appropriating  money  for  jiub- 
hc  improvement  would  fail  to  meet  with  favor  unless  it  contained  more  fcr 
local  and  private  advantage  than  for  public  benefit." 

[Here  follows  an  example  in  point: — ] 

"Captain  John  Mullan  claims  large  sums  as  '  commissions '  for  collec- 
tion of  claims  for  Oregon  at  Washington.  Those  claims  were  paid  by 
authority  of  acts  of  Congress,  directing  the  same  to  be  done.  How  then 
could  Captain  Mullan  have  'rendered  services'  in  getting  the  money? 
Did  he  cause  Congress  to  enact  the  laws  and  make  the  approjjriatious  for 
their  payment  ?" 

[What  else  was  he  employed  for  ?  A  masonic  lobbyist  can  be  trusted 
"on  the  square"  by  his  secret  oath -bound  brethren  m  office  to  divide  the 
people's  money.  i)o  outsiders  get  private  laws  passed,  and  big  pensions? 
They  are  an  insolent,  deJian(,/oi'eign,  par/an govei'nment  wUhin  the  republic,, 
supported  by  the  govei'nment  that  they  paralyze  in  any  action  against  them.\ 


582       The  Pkactical  "Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

"  Notwitlistanding  our  Government  is  founded  upon  tlie  broadest 
principles  of  equality;  that  the  first  of  the  self-evident  truths  enunciated  in 
that  Declaration  upon  which  it  rests  affirms,  that  '  all  men  are  created  free 
and  equal,'  there  immediately  sjarang  up  a  party  under  the  new  Govern- 
ment which,  if  it  did  not  j^recisely  favor  kingly  rule,  endeavored  to  build 
up  and  perpetuate  a  privileged  class,  Avith  quite  as  marked  characteristics 
as  the  dividing  lines  of  caste  under  governments  of  hereditary  rule. 

Should  the  humble  Knight  of  Labor  be  censured  because  he  belongs 
to  a  secret  order  which  his  friend  of  aristocratic  associations  declares  poH- 
tical,  when  he,  himself,  (or  rather  his  confederated  friends)  cross  continru- 
ally  from  one  haven  of  safety  to  another  by  the  mystic  bridge  of  a  society 
wliich  is  ?w6  political  ?" 

HoRRTBiiE  Mormon  Crime. 

Salt  Lake  letter  to  St.  Louis  "  Republican." 

"  One  crime  which  was  committed  here  only  a  short  time  ago,  I  must 
describe.  Mrs.  Maxwell  came  to  Salt  Lake  City  with  her  husband  in 
1869.  Two  years  afterward  her  husband  took  another  wife,  and  one  year 
subsequent  he  was  married  to  a  third.  Mrs.  Maxwell  had  two  sous,  re- 
spectively 14  and  16  years.  Their  father  urged  them  to  go  through  the 
Endowment  House  and  become  Mormons,  bound  by  all  the  oaths  of  the 
Church.  Mrs.  Maxwell  objected,  and  in  order  to  prevail  over  her  sons 
she  told  them  the  secrets  of  the  Endowment  House.  The  penalty  for  re- 
vealing these  secrets  is  dismemberment  of  the  body,  cutting  of  the  thi-oat 
and  tearing  out  of  the  tongue.  Mr.  Maxwell  overheard  his  wife,  being  in 
an  adjoining  room,  and  forthwith  he  informed  the  elders,  who  sent  for  the 
unfortunate  woman  and  her  two  sons.  They  were  taken  into  what  is 
called  the  'Dark  pit,'  a  blood-atoning  room  under  Brigham  Young's 
house.  The  woman  was  then  stripped  of  all  her  clothing  and  then  tied  on 
the  back  to  a  large  table.  Six  members  of  the  priesthood  then  jjerformed 
their  damnable  crime  ;  they  first  cut  off  their  victim's  tongue,  and  then 
cut  her  throat,  after  which  her  legs  and  arms  were  severed.  The  sons 
were  compelled  to  stand  by  and  witness  the  dreadful  slaughter  of  their 
mother.  They  were  released  and  given  twenty-four  hours  to  get  out  of 
the  Territory,  which  was  then  an  impossibihty.  The  sons  went  then  to  the 
house  of  a  friend,  to  whom  they  related  the  butchery  of  their  mother,  and 
then  getting  a  package  of  provisions  started,  but  on  the  following  morning 
were  both  dead.  They  had  met  the  Danites.  One  other  case  similar  to 
the  above  occurred  about  five  years  ago  in  the  City  Hall.  These  are 
truths,  and  the  lady  to  whom  the  sons  told  their  story  is  willing  to  make 
affidavits  to  the  facts  if  she  can  be  guaranteed  immunity  from  Mormon 
vengeance. 

[That  is  viasmiry  ! — 3Iormon  government  and  masonry  are  one  and  the 
same.\ 

"Skipped. — John  Kelnapjjil,  who  for  some  months  past  has  occupied 
so  prominent  a  place  in  the  minds  of  so  many  of  our  citizens,  and  who 
made  eucli  a  vacancy  in  their  pockets,  has  skipped  the  meshes  of  the  law, 
and  left  for  parts  unknown,  and  his  ruddy  countenance  no  longer  gi'eets 
us  from  behind  the  bars  at  the  jail.  John  was  too  big  a  thief,  the  grajDijling 
irons  of  the  law  were  not  strong  enough  to  hold  him.  His  creditors  had 
furnished  him  with  too  much  with  which  to  fight  them.  He  laughed  at 
their  threats  and  defied  them  in  every  attempt  to  punish  him  or  recover  a 
dollar  of  the  stolen  money.  Having  freed  himself  through  the  loseness  of 
the  law  from  every  criminal  charge  against  him,  save  one  involving  only  a 
small  amount,  upon  which  he  Avas  held  to  bail  in  the  sum  of  $1,000,  he 
simply  lay  in  jail  awaiting  his  oiiportunity.     On  Saturday  evening,  the 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       583 

steamer  Wildwood  liaving  been  chartered  to  come  to  this  i)ort  after  him  he 
deposited  the  amount  of  his  bail,  stepped  aboard  the  sjjrightly  craft  and 
turned  his  back  upon  the  fiekl  of  his  conquest.  Thus  ends  the  story  of 
this  wholesale  robbery,  by  which  so  many  of  our  citizens  have  been  made 
to  s^^lfer,  and  for  which  the  law  furnishes  no  remedy  through  the  ordinary 
channels  of  justice." 

[It  is  masons  in  oflSce  that  i^aralyzes  the  courts  and  does  this  prostitu- 
tion every  day  for  their  brethren.     It  ums  secret  brethre^t,  that  got  the  boat 

and  helped  hivi  away.] 

*  * 

"Thieves  now  work  in  gangs  instead  of  competing  with  each  other, 
and,  acting  on  the  principle  that  union  is  strength,  they  take  jjossession  of 
districts  and  assert  themselves  with  a  confidence  which  completely  cows 
the  victims  ui^on  whom  they  prey. 

Masonry  otherwise  known  as  the  gang  or  ring  jilan,  has  been  in  suc- 
cessful operation  here  for  many  years.  It  has  been  tried  at  Washington, 
and  has  been  tried  in  the  cities  of  New  York,  Brooklyn  and  Philadelphia, 
and  in  all  the  State  capitals.  Honest  men  should  see  to  it  that  the  co- 
operative stealing  of  this  kind  is  prevented,  or,  if  committed,  that  the  per- 
petrators are  duly  punished. " 

*  * 

''Dublin,  November  21,  1882. 
In  the  Joyce  trial  [four  or  five  men  sentenced  to  hang] . .  .  .Judge 
Barry  in  passing  sentence  informed  the  prisoners  that  they  furnished  a 
terrible  example  which  he  hoped  would  sink  deeply  into  the  hearts  of 
others  of  the  consequences  of  joining  a  seci'et  society.  It  was  not  improb- 
able, he  said,  that  some  of  them  had  been  terrorized  into  joining  the  gang 
who  murdered  the  Joyces,  and  had  not  taken  an  actual  manual  part  in  the 
massacre  ;  but  persons  joining  an  unlawful  enterprise  were  responsible  for 
the  acts  of  all  tlie parties  thereto." 

* 
"It  seems  that  Chicago  Courts  take  very  plain  and  unexaggerated 
views  of  the  law.  In  his  charge  to  the  jiiry,  in  the  Anarchists'  tnal,  the 
presiding  Judge  held  that  '  if  violence  for  any  unlawful  object  resiilted  in 
death,  those  who  organized  the  violence  are  guilty  of  murder. '  In  other 
words,  those  who  emjiloy  dangerous  methods  are  responsible  for  the  result. " 

*  * 
* 

Secretism.  The  Masons  with  their  degi-ee  of  apprentice,  fellow-craft, 
and  grand  master,  together  with  the  whole  brood  of  inferior  orders,  form 
the  dry  rot  in  our  political  body.  They  are  an  enemy  to  both  Church  and 
State.  They  are  anti-EepubHcan  and  anti-Christian.  Their  ensnaring  and 
blasphemous  oaths  forever  proscribe  them.  — New  York  Witness. 

A  Protest  against  Masonic  Participation. 

"A  piinted  jjrotest  of  large  proportions  against  permitting  Masonic 
societies  to  participate  in  the  dedication  of  the  Washington  Monument 
next  Saturday,  has  been  received  by  the  Congi-essional  committee  charged 
with  arrangements.  The  signers  claim  to  have  13,000  signatures.  Protest- 
ants say  that  the  Masonic  order  has  no  more  right  to  such  a  distinction 
than  the  Hibernians  or  any  other  secret  order.  A  stone  sent  by  tlie  Pojie 
for  the  monument  was,  they  say,  broken  up  and  thrown  into  the  Potomac. 
"Why,"  they  ask,  "are  CathoUcs  snubbed  and  Free  Masons  honored  ?" 
"Free  Masonry,"  they  say,  "is  of  foreign  birth,  is  entirely  un-Ameiican 


584       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 


and  un-repiiblican.  Its  public  displays  are  pompous  and  barbaric;  its 
titles  extravap^ant  and  lordly;  its  constitution  despotic;  its  oath  extra- 
judicial, "which  Webster  said  should  be  supiiressed  by  law."  They  i^ray 
only  that  such  ceremonies  as  are  national  in  their  scope  and  American  in 
their  character  be  permitted.  The  protest  came  too  late  for  action  by  the 
committee." 

Against  Secket  Societies. 

"Ne^vburg  (N.  Y.),  June 7th,  1887.— The  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  America  to-day  adopted  resolutions  declaring  secret 
societies  immoral,  selfish  and  unjust,  degrading  and  enslaving  to  the  con- 
sciences of  their  members;  that,  in  addition,  many  of  them  are  Christless, 
yet  they  counterfeit  the  worship  of  the  church  and  obstruct  her  work  and 
for  that  reason,  as  well  as  for  the  secrecy,  the  members  of  such  societies 
ought  not  to  be  admitted  to  the  church's  membership,  and  the  Synod  en- 
joins the  coiiris  of  the  chui'ch  to  refuse  admission  to  members  of  all  secret 
orders  and  to  exclude  from  membership  any  who  may  have  crept  in  un- 
awares. In  the  course  of  the  debate  on  these  resolutions  Free  Masonry 
was  bitterly  denounced." 

Opposition  to  Masonry  in  South  America. 

"Lima,  August  1st,  1885. — The  Bishop  of  Lima  has  sent  an  address  to 
Monsignor  Favor,  Minister  of  Justice,  protesting  against  the  proposed 
Masonic  Hall  to  be  erected  in  Lima.  The  Mmister  has  rephed  in  strong 
terms,  deprecating  the  pubhcity  given  to  the  protest  by  the  Bishop,  but 
assuring  him  that  in  virtue  of  the  Constitution  the  Government  has  not 
permitted  and  never  will  permit  the  erection  of  a  Masonic  Temple  in  Lima." 


In  the  U.  S.  a. 

"The  exercises  of  laying  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  State  University 
building  on  yesterday  afternoon  by  the  Masonic  fraternity  were  well  at- 
tended, though  there  were  not  as  many  as  were  expected  from  abroad." 

[Is  it  not  time  that  such  deviltry  and  desecration  was  killed  by  the 
American  people  ?] 

Editor  Cynosure: — 1.  Is  the  man  a  consistent  Christian  who  preaches 
Christ  in  the  pulpit,  he  being  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  reject- 
ing Christ  m  then'  ritual  and  prayers  ? 

2.  Is  any  man  entitled  to  our  confidence  and  respect  as  a  true  Christian, 
whose  Ufe  and  character  are  controlled  by  Masonic  oaths  and  jiublic 
opinion  ? 

3.  Ai-e  not  those  who  place  their  hope  of  salvation  on  a  Christ-exclud- 
ing reUgion  as  far  wrong  as  heathen,  and  more  guilty  ? 

4.  Are  not  Masonic  ministers  stumbhng-blocks,  in  the  way  of  all  other 
Masons,  though  they  preach  Christ  in  the  pulpit,  as  they  are  paid  to  do? 

5.  Is  it  not  indecent  and  partial  to  require  a  Masonic  candidate  to 
solemnly  swear  to  be  chaste  toward  the  female  relatives  of  brother  Masons 
only  ? 

6.  Can  a  Christian  innocently  neglect  to  inform  himself  and  others  in 
regard  to  a  Christ  excluding  religion  in  our  midst  ? 

7.  Who  strains  at  a  gnat  and  swallows  a  camel,  if  not  the  Masonic 
Baptist,  who  will  not  commune  with  a  person  who  has  not  been  put  under 
water  ? 

8.  Is  not  the  man  who  will  not  inform  himself  in  regard  to  an  impor- 
tant duty  as  guilty  in  the  sight  of  God  as  the  man  who  knew  his  duty  and 
did  it  not  ? 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       585 


9.  Can  it  ever  be  right  to  solemnly  swear  to  keep  another's  secrets  in 
all  cases,  except  miirder  and  treason? 

10.  Is  wrong-doing  any  less  sinful  because  so-called  good  men  have 
made  it  popular  ? 

11.  Would  any  respectable  man  join  a  Mason  lodge,  knowing  the  in- 
side working  of  the  order,  as  all  ought  to  know  it  ? 

12.  Is  it  not  mainly  because  Masons  are  ashamed  of  their  doings  that 
candidates  are  reqiiired  to  swear  "to  ever  conceal  and  never  reveal"  the 
secrets  of  the  order  ? 

13.  Would  not  the  professing  Christian,  who  dare  not  answer  these 
questions,  do  well  to  revise  his  religion  ?  J.  M. 

"Gentlemen '.—You  know  you  are  a  set  of  knaves,  hypocritically  aping 
innocence.  We  recognize  what  you  are — that  you  flourish  by  cheating, 
lying,  and  force.  We  cannot  at  jiresent  hel]3  that.  You  are  strong,  united, 
cunning;  the  people  are  weak,  disunited,  apathetic,  ignorant.  But  we 
who  profess,  in  some  measure,  to  guide  jpubhc  opinion  will  not  cease  to 
point  out  your  tricks  and  roguishness  until  we  shall  have  left  you  not  a 
rag  of  character,  and  you  will  be  glad  to  hide  from  the  contempt,  if  not 
the  shoe-leather,  of  those  whom  you  have  beguiled  so  long!"        Dodo. 


"On  Tuesday,  November  16th,  1888,  Dan  Collins,  a  resident  of  Colfax, 
evidently  insane,  while  court  was  in  session,  suddenly  walked  to  the  wit- 
ness bar  and  attem^jted  to  address  the  jury.  Judge  Langford  stoi^ped 
him,  when  he  claimed  the  right  to  address  the  jury,  and  said  his  life  was 
being  threatened  and  his  property  was  about  to  be  taken  away  by  Masons, 
Odd  Fellows  and  other  conspirators.  The  court  refen-ed  him  to  the 
grand  jury,  in  session,  and  on  going  down  stairs  he  was  arrested  on  a 
charge  of  insanity,  and  taken  before  Judge  Thompson,  who  so  adjudged 
him." 

[Are  such  victims  now  languishing  in  secret  prisons  to  have  no  re- 
course? Reflect  that  the  courts  are  often  in  i\ie  control  of  these  very  con- 
spirators who  thus  judge  and  hold  their  victims. 

On  the  other  hand  take  this:] 

"Tkial  Closed. — A  Dallas  letter  of  a  recent  date  contains  the  follow- 
ing: The  close  of  the  trial  of  C. . .  for  the  killing  of  F. . .  near  Lone  Kock, 
last  June,  has  taken  i)lace,  resulting  in  the  acquittal  of  C. . .  The  rulings 
of  the  new  judge  was  a  suri)rise  to  many,  and  has  caused  much  comment. 
If  a  man  is  running  for  dear  Ufe  from  you,  it  is  better  and  justifiable  to 
shoot  for  fear  of  his  return,  especially  if  he  is  on  what  is  believed  to  be  his 
own  land  and  you  want  it.  Are  these  conditions  to  go  on  and  on,  and  the 
public  be  compelled  to  submit  to  the  woeful  travesty  of  justice  for  all 
time  to  come  ?  Has  vitalized  and  aroused  public  opinion  no  influence  in 
changing  an  order  of  things  that  is  heaping  disgrace  upon  the  country  and 
insecurity  upon  the  lives  of  the  jjeople?  There  are  times  when  men,  des- 
pairing of  the  justice  of  courts  and  seeing  in  them  only  the  liveries  of 
crime,  sweep  aside  these  public  farces  and  take  the  law  into  their  o^vn 
hands." 

* 

"  The  people  are  earnestly  searching  for  some  means  by  which  society 
may  be  protected  and  human  life  made  secure.  There  certamly  ought  to 
be  conditions  in  which  the  law  can  be  used  as  a  means  of  public  safety  ; 
in  which  homicides  can  be  punished  and  pilferers  and  swindlers  be  brought 
to  justice.  But,  humiliating  as  is  the  confession,  these  conditions  do  not 
exist.     Crime  was  never  more  insolent  and  menacing — Courts  never  so 


586       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

•weak  and  inefficient.  Life  is  at  the  mercy  of  every  assassin  who  cliooses 
to  take  it ;  j)roperty  the  spoils  of  every  dishonest  wretch  who  conspires  to 
seize  it. 

How  long  these  conditions  will  be  allowed  to  prevail  we  are  unable  to 
sav  ;  but  there  is  a  growing  sentiment  which  will  biu-st  some  day  in  all  the 
fuVy  and  desolation  of  a  tempest,  and  it  will  sweej?  outlaws  and  then-  abet- 
tors from  the  face  of  the  earth.  Not  even  Courts  can  continue  forever  to 
shield  criminals  from  punishment  and  mock  with  insolent  indiJSference  and 
unblushing  collusion  with  crime  the  indignant  sense  of  an  outraged  com- 
munity. Judges  and  juries,  and  Coui-ts  of  last  resort  have  trampled  upon 
the  rights  and  insulted  the  moral  sense  of  the  people  long  enough.  It  is 
time  to  call  a  halt." 

*  * 

* 

"The  people  are  banding  together  to  make  an  example  of  a  few  of 
such  gentry.  Eight  here  let  us  say  we  beheve  the  law  of  every  State 
should  inflict  cai^tal  punishment  forsteaUng  stock  and  robbing  post-offices 
and  betraying  other  trusts  in  any  amount  of  money  over  $5.  The  old 
North  Carolina  law  was  a  good  one.  The  breed  of  thieves  should  be 
stopped  by  strangulation.  Such  punishment  of  a  few  would  deter  others. 
No  man  has  a  right  to  claim  an  existence  among  men  when  he  is  a  practi- 
cal thief.  The  country  is  getting  to  full  of  low,  dirty  scoundrels  who  de- 
sire to  live  well  oflf  the  product  of  the  labor  and  business  of  others.  The 
law  should  be  to  hang  every  thief  proven  to  be  such.  This  world  is  too  far 
in  the  advance  of  civilization  to  allow  men  of  such  low  morals  to  have  an 
existence  among  the  rising  generation.  Theii-  examples  are  too  fraught 
with  evil  to  be  suffered  to  Hve  on  the  Earth." 


"We  have  a  country  of  unbounded  resources,  becoming  richer  and 
richer  every  day  ;  and  yet,  the  class  that  jiroduces  the  wealth  is  becoming 
poorer  and  poorer  with  the  most  alarming  rajaidity,  and  they  have  them- 
selves to  blame  for  it.  If  they  have  not  actually  and  actively  aided  the 
oppression  that  environs  them,  they  have  encouraged  it  by  their  silence. 

The  land  is  swarming  with  men  who  live  by  their  wits,  and  our  law- 
makers come  largely  from  this  class.  They  are  not  too  honest  to  steal  or 
rob,  but  they  do  it  in  accordance  with  the  jsrevaiLing  ideas  of  our  present 
advanced  civilization. 

Somehow  they  nearly  all,  directly  or  indirectly,  draw  from  the  public 
treasury,  and  much  of  the  money  thus  obtained  is  no  better  than  robbery; 
but  their  methods  are  legaHzed  and  the  jseople  are  helpless  so  long  as  they 
do  not  take  matters  into  their  own  hands.  These  parasites  and  grabbers 
are  all  loyal  to  themselves." 


"  Where  law  by  reason  of  its  deficiency  is  inai)plicable  to  a  certain 
class  of  individuals,  and  punishment  cannot  be  meted  out  to  a  certain 
class  of  wrong-doers,  when  rascality  runs  rampant  and  \illainy  holds  high 
carnival — when  under  the  thinnest  of  legal  subterfuges  men  go  on  and 
heedlessly  commit  wrong  upon  wrong  on  almost  defenseless  man  or  set  of 
men — when  men  by  their  wealth  and  position  are  enabled  to  single  out  a 
man  and  taking  advantage  of  his  omission,  would  rob  him  with  no  law  to 
say  stop — then  we  say  it  well  becomes  a  community  to  make  a  law  unto 
themselves,  and  even' though  it  be  '  wild  justice '  it  is  better  than  no  justice 
at  all,  if  it  stays  the  e^il  and  stops  the  curse.  The  Anglo-Saxon  race  is  by 
nature  and  training  law-abiding.     The  American  people  are  not  false  to 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        587 

their  ancestry  or  tlieii-  civilization,  and  ponder  long  ere  they  wonkl  take 
unto  themselves  the  issuance  of  decrees  and  the  administration  of  '  wild 
justice,'  yet  we  say  whenever  a  man  becomes  a  confirmed  criminal — 
"whether  of  polish  and  high  bred  or  coarse  and  of  low  estate,  it  matters  not, 
and  persists  in  violating  the  laws  of  a  reasonable  humanity,  then  we  say 
and  say  it  with  no  compunction  of  conscience,  organized  society  ought 
to  break  his  neck,  swiftly  and  in  an  amj^le  way. 

There  are  enough  worthy  objects  ujjon  which  to  lavish  sympathy  or 
to  bestow  benefactions.  All  around  us  are  poor  and  worthy  men  and 
women  whose  fortunes  have  been  hard,  whose  lives  have  been  mostly  in 
the  shadow  of  ill-success.  To  such  let  charity  extend  a  helping  hand.  It 
may  save  some  soul  from  crime.  They  are  deserving  of  sympathy  and 
support.  But  to  the  vile  and  heartless,  the  conscienceless  and  cowardly, 
the  brutal  and  bloodthirsty  [masonic]  assassins,  who  so  rarely  are  brought 
to  punishment,  nothing  but  stern,  inexorable  justice  is  due  or  should  be 
extended.  Sympathy  with  such  is  an  abnormal  sentiment ;  it  is  weak, 
maudlin,  morbid  and  wicked." 

The  Woekingsian. 

"In  point  of  fact  the  workingman  is  chained  to  a  treadmill,  and  makes 
his  weary  round,  day  in  and  day  out,  wearing  the  collar  of  servitude,  while 
he  ploddingly  but  unintermittingly  grinds  out  dollars  for  the  masons. 
Into  the  hopjDer  are  dumped  life,  liberty  and  the  i^ursuit  of  happiness,  and 
out  of  it  comes  more  millions  for  the  men  who  do  not  need  them — more 
misery  for  the  men  who  really  make  these  milHons. 

The  poorest  citizen  should  have  as  much  interest  in  his  condition, 
and  in  the  general  condition  of  the  country  as  the  wealthiest  man,  and  yet 
tens  of  thousands  of  our  citizens  look  on  quietly  while  they  are  being 
taxed  for  the  benefit  of  legal  s%vindlers  and  while  their  native  soil  is  being 
plundered.     Truly  does  it  take  a  long  time  to  civilize  human  beings." 

*  * 
* 

"  Besolved,  First,  that  we  declare  our  opposition  to  the  Repubhcan 
party  for  its  frauds  and  robbery  of  the  peojjle.  It  has  created  a  milhon- 
aire  nobility  and  impoverished  the  populace.  It  has  taken  dominion  from 
the  lords  of  blood  and  passed  it  to  the  lords  of  gold.  It  has  given  to  the 
transportation  department  of  this  country  an  empire  of  the  j^ublic  domain 
larger  in  extent  than  the  whole  of  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland,  thus 
robbing  the  people  of  their  rightful  inheritance.  It  has  created  an  olig- 
archy of  a  few  thousand  idle  drones  and  furnished  them  with  the  means 
and  appliances  to  absorb  from  and  rob  the  toiling  milhons  of  their  annual 
hard  earnings." 

[Is  it  the  "  Republican  party,"  or  is  it  practical  masonry  ?] 

*  * 

* 

"A  spirit  of  communism  and  carelessness  is  engendered  in  his  breast 
when  the  farmer  of  the  Willamette  Valley  comes  to  this  city  and  looks  on 
the  palaces  and  other  evidences  of  Avealth  which  surround  him,  and  re- 
members that  after  twenty  years  of  ceaseless  toil  and  privation  there  is  a 
rnortgage  on  his  httle  farm  that  he  cannot  pay,  and  that  the  fruits  of  his 
Hfe  long  industry  have  gone  into  the  jjockets  of  men  who  never  reclaimed 
one  acre  of  land  from  the  wilderness,  nor  added  one  dollar  to  the  i>ro- 
ductive  industries  of  the  State." 

*  * 
* 

"As  I  write  I  have  before  my  mind's  eye  a  double  picture  on  this 
Christmas  morning.     On  one  side  a  beautiful  Christmas  tree  standing  in 


OF  THE 

UNIVF-RSTT^ 


588        The  Practical  Wormngs  of  Masonry,  etc. 

the  bay  window  of  a  stately  mansion  ;  the  tree  is  loaded  down  with  beauti- 
ful articles  of  luxury,  which  only  the  wealthy  can  possess.  In  the  room 
at  dawn  of  day  are  grouped  the  youthful  members  of  the  proud  aristo- 
crat's household,  the  youngest  of  which  exclaims,  *  Good  Santa  Glaus.' 
Could  everybody  be  rich,  and  were  luxury  within  the  reach  of  all,  or  did 
the  riches  come  honestly  to  hand  this  would  be  all  right  and  projjer,  but 
on  the  other  side  is  the  hovel  of  the  unfortunate  poor.  Here,  too,  are 
little  ones  beautiful  even  in  their  rags.  In  a  corner  sits  the  disconsolate 
mother,  listening  to  their  innocent  prattle  and  shedding  in-epressible  tears 
as  a  child  exclaims,  '  Why  don't  Santa  Glaus  come  ?  "  The  father  having 
been  beaten  out  of  the  bulk  of  his  property  by  a  few  [masonic J  bilks,  is  now 
compelled  to  do  menial  service  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door.  He  has 
not  the  heart  to  face  his  family  now,  but  is  laboring  with  all  his  might  to 
keej?  his  family  supplied  with  the  bare  necessaries  of  life,  while  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  mansion  is  saying  complacently  that  providence  has  favored 
him  in  the  acquisition  of  his  wealth.  The  religion  which  gives  one  man 
millions  and  another  nothing  comes  from  hell  and  not  from  heaven. 

A.  J.  S." 
* 

"There  is  scarcely  a  hall  for  public  gatherings  in  this  city  but  what 
woiild  prove  the  scene  of  death  or  damage  in  case  of  a  fire  occurring  in 
them  when  occupied  by  an  audience,  but  it  miglit  be  libelous  to  make  any 
mention  of  particular  instances  before  the  coroner  sits  upon  the  dead." 

[That  is,  if  the  proprietor  has  secret  influence  at  court !  Such  is  the 
libel  law  in  the  hands  of  the  gang.  J 

* 

"  The  pubHc  sentiment  in  the  Montague  case  with  all  decent  citizens 
is  with  the  husband.  There  are  too  many  smart,  no  account  licentious  men 
in  this  city  who  think  that  the  most  creditable  thing  they  can  perform  is  to 
break  up  the  peace  of  famihes.  The  only  redress  the  injured  men  have  is 
to  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands  and  there  is  no  jury  in  the  United 
States  which  vnU.  convict  them." 

[This  is  how  the  ring  press  shouts  out  when  the  offender  is  an  out- 
sider ;  otherwise  they  hold  it  to  be  "  murder"  to  kill  such  people,  and  the 
"good  judiciary"  either  convicts  "the  injured  man"  or  robs  him  of  his 
property,  or  both.] 

■X- 

* '  This  [Links]  was  then  editor  in  and  Postmaster  of  the  place.  The 
peoj^le  were  comislaining  of  him,  and  Governor  Beall  charged  him  with 
whatever  the  derehctions  were.  Afterward,  when  he  entered  Link's  office 
he  was  shot  twice  by  him  and  died  from  the  wounds.  A  jury — a  mihtary 
coui't-martial — which  had  no  more  jurisdiction  of  the  case  than  the  vestry 
of  a  church  in  this  city,  acquitted  [Links.  ] 

[Thus  he  was  "  acquitted  "  (?)  as  he  also  was  about  fifty  times  after- 
wards on  other  charges,  which  was  practical  masonry  also.] 


"  It  is  well  known  that  the  people  of  this  Territory  have  been  almost, 
and  some  of  them  entirely,  driven  from  their  homes  by  the  extortionate 
charges  of  jihysicians  and  surgeons. 

New  York  and  several  of  the  other  Eastern  States  have  laws  to  protect 
their  citizens  against  such  high-handed  robbery  as  is  practiced  on  this 
coast.  It  may  not  be  generally  known,  but  this  one  thing  alone  is  a  great 
drawback  to  the  settlement  of  this  Territory. 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       589 

Not  long  since  I  came  up  with  an  emigrant  train  in  camp.  They,  of 
course,  made  a  great  many  inquiries  about  the  country  and  its  customs 
generally, the  prices  of  various  articles  of  home  consixmi)tiou  and  i)roduce, 
and  fiually  an  old  gentleman  asked  Avhat  our  doctors  charged  per  mile.  I 
informed  them  that  they  charged  $1  per  mile  in  the  day  and  double  that 
at  uight  Avith  a  bill  at  the  drug  stoi*e  of  about  !$5  each  trip.  The  expres- 
sion of  those  peoijle  at  this  news,  was  exactly  this :  '  My  God,  hoAV  do 
the  people  hve  here  ? '" 

[The  quacks  all  belong  to  the  gang  and  can  thus,  throtigh  secret 
brethren  at  court,  enforce  i\\e\v  extortion  and  mal-j^ractice  on  their  victims. 
Even  the  testimony  of  others  of  the  odth-hound  gang  is  taken  as  evidence  iu 
the  ring-ridden  courts  against  the  injured  citizen  !] 

* 

' '  Shepi^ard  testified  in  his  own  behalf,  saying : 

When  I  was  twelve  years  of  age  I  was  employed  in  a  counterfeiting 
establishment  which  was  owned  and  operated,  among  others,  by  Charles 
H.  Leonard,  recently  mayor  of  Galveston,  Tex.,  and  at  jjresent  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  that  city.  Interested  with  him  in  this  business 
were  the  mayor  of  New  Orleans,  city  officials,  chief  of  police,  judges,  and 
limbs  of  the  law.  Then  the  judge  of  the  criminal  court  for  the  parish  of 
Orleans  was  a  partner  in  the  establishment,  also  a  prominent  laAvyer  who 
now  occupies  a  judgeship  in  Baltimore.  These  peojjle  were  engaged  in 
counterfeiting  Mexican  coin,  United  States  bills  and  money  of  every 
description.  The  Mexican  money  was  manufactured  down  stairs,  and  the 
United  States  notes,  etc. ,  were  turned  out  ujj-stairs.  My  position  was  that 
of  messenger  for  the  establishment  and  as  such  I  delivered  the  counterfeit 
money  to  the  banks  of  the  city  and  high  city  officials.  Thousands  and 
thousands  of  dollars  of  this  money  was  manufactiued  and  circulated  here 
and  elsewhere  throiighout  this  country  and  Mexico.  Many  of  the  persons 
engaged  in  counterfeiting  them  have  left  behind  them  sous  and  daughters 
Avho  move  in  the  highest  society.  For  this  reason  I  do  not  proj^ose  to 
make  known  the  names  of  the  persons  for  whom  I  first  worked  in  the 
counterfeiting  business.  All  my  hfe  it  has  been  my  misfortune  to  suft'er 
for  and  to  bear  the  burdens  of  other  persons'  misdeeds.  My  whole  life 
has  been  one  of  continued  sacrifice. '  Sheppard  is  now  sixty -two  years  of 
age."     [What  a  'good  judiciary.'] 

*  * 

[Such  a  "good  judiciary."] 

Says  a  local  paper  to-day:  "An  Oregon  man  who  shot  a  lawyer  a  few 
years  ago  was  couAdcted  and  sentenced  to  prison.  This  mistake  has  just 
been  corrected  by  the  governor,  who  gives  him  f ull  jiardon.  The  mystery 
surrounding  his  con-\-iction  has  not  yet  been  explained." 

[The  brother  was  shot  for  practical  Masonry!     That's  what.] 

*  * 

* 

"Another  Shooting. — About  five  o'clock  on  Tuesday  evening  of  last 
week,  [Links] ,  ot  Asotin  county,  shot  and  killed  one  Elmer  Stimpson.  As 
we  learn,  Stimpson  took  Meyer's  wife  sometime  since  and  rauott"  with  her, 
and  last  week  the  two  returned,  and,  in  joassiug  the  field  in  which  Meyers 
was  at  work,  waved  their  handkerchiefs  at  him.  He  returned  the  "salute," 
not  knowing  who  they  were,  but  wlien  told,  went  and  procured  a  Win- 
chester rifle  and  shot  Stimpson,  the  ball  passing  through  his  right  breast, 
and  he  died  on  Wednesday  night.  Meyers  then  fired  at  his  wife,  but 
missed  his  aim.  The  murderer  gave  himself  up  to  the  Sherifl'  and  was  held 
to  ai^pear  before  Justice  Ansman  on  Monday  in  the  sum  of  ^1,500. 


590       The  Practicax.  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

g'he  slayer  was  a  secret  brotlier  and  was  "  acquitted  "  (?)  according- 
is  own,  sworn  brethren  were  on  the  jury  !] 


"The  Eing. — Garfield  county  has  been  run  by  a  handful  of  Eing 
Democrats  and  Eing  EeiJublicaus  long  enoiigh.  The  hard  working 
farmers  are  tired  of  Eing  Eule.  It  is  too  expensive,  too  exacting  and  too 
unjust.  Now  is  the  time  to  shake  off  the  Eing  shackles.  The  old  settlers 
of  the  county  say  they  want  a  change,  and  are  going  to  vote  a  change. 
^\'ill  the  farmers,  and  their  wives  and  their  daughters,  vote  to  per^jetuate 
a  [masonic]  ring  ?" 

[I^ame  one  of  the  gang,  if  you  can,  that  is  neither  a  mason  or  oddfellow?  \ 


According  to  The  New-Orleans  States,  the  official  democratic  jiajDer  in 
that  city,  B.  B.  Jones,  recently  appointed  consul  at  Callao,  is  a  fugitive 
from  justice.  He  was,  it  says,  indicted  in  Louisiana  for  the  assassination 
of  General  Liddell  in  1870,  and  escaping  from  a  band  of  lynchers  fled 
from  the  country.  He  now  turns  uj)  as  the  President's  choice  for  con- 
sul at  Callao,  and  The  States  demands  that  Governor  McEnery  make  a 
reqxiisition  for  his  body, — New  Yo7-k  Tribune. 

[Secret  influence,  my  boy.     An  office  instead  of  $2,500  reward.] 


The  "Bx-gone"  Eecokd. 

A  newcomer  wants  to  know  what  the  "infamous  record"  of  [Links] 
is.  It  is  easily  recited.  First,  while  school  teacher,  he  seduced  one  of  his 
pupils.  This  offense  against  good  morals  had  been  condoned  by  his  mar- 
riage to  her,  the  birth  of  two  or  three  children  following.  Second,  after 
his  marriage  he  became  enamored  of  another  woman  with  whom  he  left 
the  States,  leaving  his  wife  and  several  of  his  children  so  destitute  that  the 
former  finally  brought  up  in  the  poor  house.  Third,  at  the  time  of  his 
flight  he  took  some  $4,000  which  did  not  belong  to  him.     Fourth,   to 

evade  the  officers  of  the  law  lie  assumed  an  alias,  his  true  name  being 

These  facts  Links  acknowledged  to  be  true,  but  pleaded  the  "baby  act  " 
and  said  they  were  "  early  indiscretions." 

Up  to  the  time  of  coining  to ,  Links  had  committed  four  crimes 

punishable  by  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary.  While  living  here  under 
an  assumed  name  he  again  married  without  first  obtaining  a  divorce  from 
the  first  \nie.  With  this  wife  he  lived  for  many  years  and  became  the 
father  of  her  children  before  legally  marrying  her.  These  facts  form  an 
outline  of  a  career  whose  details  cannot  be  told  without  outrage  to  decency. 
All  of  these  crimes  Links  confesses,  but  wishes  the  people  to  look  over 
as  by-gones.  And  yet  in  the  face  of  this  damning  record,  and  in  the 
face  of  more  recent  moral  and  political  misdemeanors  shameful  to  man- 
hood, there  are  people  who  flock  to  his  support,  attracted  by  the  thin 
molasses  of  a  polite  address,  or  the  hope  of  a  share  in  official  sjaoils. 
The  man  is  not  wanted  by  the  people  and  their  representatives  will  not 
elect  him  to  the  high  place  which  he  asks." 

[But  as  he  was  a  high  Freemason  he  was  therefore  elected  (?)  and  is 
now  lording  it  in  the  United  States  Senate.  Then  why  should  criminals 
in  prison  reform  ?  Why  not  rather  join  the  gang  and  run  for  office  ?  As 
this  case  is  but  an  example  !] 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       591 

Shere  give  another  mere  example  of  practical  masonry  !  tliat  is  going 
le  innocent  men  ax'e  being  convicted  and  held  to  languish  !] 

Voorhees,  of  Indiana,  and  Blackburn,  of  Kentucky,  defended  [Links] 
earnest  appeals  to  the  doctrine  of  "higher  law."  Blackburn,  in  closing  a 
speech  that  was  really  remarkable  for  energy  and  eloquence,  said  :  "  There 
is  but  one  tribunal  on  earth  where  cases  like  this  of  Thompson's  can  be 
adjusted.  It  is  a  tribunal  in  which  conscience  sits  on  the  bench.  Its 
judgments  are  traced  in  blood.  It  has  the  sanction  of  the  law  of  human- 
ity wherever  civiUzation  prevails.  It  is  God's  law,  and  you  cannot  re- 
verse it." 

[But  why  is  it  that  this  "higher  lain  "  is  nerier  heard  of  except  in  hehaJf  of 
members  of  secret  oath-bound  orders?  It  couxiD  easily  be  put  into  a  com- 
mon STATE  LAW  and  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  ALL  MEN  ALIKE,  and  not  requiring 
$1,000  or  $2,000  middlemen  and  other  great  expense  to  dig  it  up  and  show 
it  to  the  court  and  jury  or  else  to  die  I  Damn  such  courts  ;  they  ought  to 
be  killed!  It  cost  the  Indian  nothing  to  administer  this  "higher  law," 
Nor  did  it  the  white  man  on  the  plains  !] 


On  "Higher  Law"  in  Kentucky. 
Lo u isville  Co  urier-Jo  urnal. 

The  shot-gun  is  mightier  than  the  cotirts.  It  is  a  universal  leveler.  It 
simphfles  and  cheapens  the  law,  and  brings  it  to  the  door  of  the  poorest 
■when  need  is,  and  long  may  its  policy  prevail,  mute  sentinel  by  the 
fireside,  guarding  the  honor  of  our  women,  protecting  our  cradles  and 
our  children  ;  a  menace  to  wives  that  are  weak,  and  a  perpetual  terror 
to  libertines  and  Hbertinism. 

[What  consolation  is  such  talk  to  victims  looted  and  languishing  in 
secret  robbing  prisons,  because  they  even  dared  to  defend  their  lives  and 
homes  against  robbing,  murdering  libertines,  and  in  the  very  act!  The 
court  gang  says  to  the  citizen:  "Your  money  or  your  life!"  and  it 
often  gets  away  with  both.] 

*  * 

* 

"The  Glenn  Mukdek  Tklal. 

The  Glenn  murder  trial  w^as  resumed.  E.  M.  Cochran,  superintendent 
of  the  Glenn  ranch,  was  the  first  witness  called.  He  testified  to  having 
pursued  Miller,  and  shot  him  in  the  leg  before  he  would  surrender  after 
the  shooting  of  Glenn.  After  being  shot,  Miller  fell  on  his  back,  and 
when  ordered  by  the  witness,  he  threw  his  gun  to  one  side.  When  witness 
apijroached  Miller,  the  latter  asked  for  protection  and  help  as  a  brother 
Mason.  Witness  decHned  to  testify  to  conversations  between  Miller  and 
himself,  as  it  would  be  in  violation  of  the  rules  of  Masonry.  He  did  not 
know  that  Miller  was  a  Mason  until  after  he  had  shot  him. " 

[And  thus  is  the  suijreme  allegiance  to  a  foreign  secret  government 
over  our  government  granted  by  ring-ridden  courts.  Hoio  can  an  outsider 
get  justice  in  such  courts  against  one  of  the  gang  when  they  are  thus 
allowed  to  "ever  conceal  and  never  reveal"  each  other's  secrets?  And 
mark  that  this  is  in  a  case  of  murder.  Is  one  of  these  foreign,  pagan  sub- 
jects fit  to  be  a  sheriff,  judge  or  any  other  official  ?] 


"Physicians  allow  that  the  lancet  is  a  cruel  instrument,  but  tell  us 
'  that  its  timely  application  often  saves  life. '  Law  and  its  administration 
in  Oregon  show  but  few  marks  of  the  principles  declared  as  being  those  of 


592        The  Practical  "Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

the  American  union.     From  the  justices'  courts  to  the  supreme  court, 

where  can  a  poor  man  get  justice  ? They  afford  no 

excuse  to  coiTupt  and  uujust  judges  who  bear  the  double  brand  of  shame, 

as  perjurers  and  traitoi's  to  their  country 

Por  in  them  is  vested  the  authority  to  decide  the  issues  which  confirm  or 
destroy  rights  to  proijerty,  Hberty  and  life.  Heuce  corruijt  [Masonic] 
rings  exercise  their  utmost  efforts  to  keep  control  of  the  coTU*ts.  The  couiis 
of  law  should  be  the  bulwark  of  the  peo^jle's  liberties.  Are  our  State 
courts  such  ?  Our  State  sujn-eme  couri  was  in  its  inception  a  fraud.  No 
State  or  people  has  ever  gained  anything  by  covering  its  mistakes  but  ig- 
nominious exposure  and  disaster.     Many  have  gained  by  fearlessly  facing 

and  exposing  them After  careful  examination  of  the 

subject,  his  opinion  was  uttered  in  one  short  sentence:  'What  a  suin-eme 
court ! '  We  have  occasionally  to  deplore  such  acts  as  those  of  peoisle 
who  break  into  prisons  and  take  out  criminals  and  hang  or  shoot  them 
without  the  trial  the  law  allows.  If  they  would  now  and  then  take  a  judge 
and  hang  him  by  his  neck  till  he  was  dead,  it  would  be  matter  for  small 
regret.  The  former  class  are  mostly  illiterates  anyway ;  the  latter  are  sup- 
posed to  be  men  of  education  and  honor;  but  when  judges  tamper  with 
the  peojile's  rights,  they  ought  to  swing.  They  are  sworn  to  protect  them. 
Crimes  of  the  poor  and  ignorant  should  be  treated  with  lenience.  Those 
of  the  rich  and  educated  should  never  be  overlooked  nor  condoned.  If  I 
correctly  understand  the  meaning  of  that  great  word,  'Liberty,'  such 
would  be  the  means  to  secure  it.  When  a  dozen  men,  or  twenty  dozen 
men,  undertake  to  run  a  State  or  government  even  to  its  courts  of  so-called 
justice,  it  is  time  for  that  State  to  rise  up  in  righteous  indignation  and 
make  an  end  of  them  all.  Where  there  is  one  administration  of  law  for 
the  rich  and  another  for  the  j^oor,  where  a  rich  man  is  allowed  to  steal  his 
thousands  and  a  poor  one  imprisoned  for  stealing  a  loaf  to  feed  his  family, 
there  is  no  real  liberty.  Liberty  means  not  only  protection  for  the  rich, 
but  also  absolute  freedom  and  justice  for  the  poor;  and  if  the  courts  of 
law  are  made  vehicles  of  oppression  and  inequity,  it  would  be  far  more 
just  to  hang  a  few  educated  judges  than  many  others  whose  errors  are 
traceable  to  poverty  or  ignorance.  J.  Feed.  Clakk.  " 

"Dkiven  into  Povektt  and  Prison,  Disgeace  and  Insane  Asylum. 

About  a  year  ago  George  Conroy  sued  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad 
Comi)any  for  injuries  received  by  falling  into  the  cesspool  the  company 
had  dug  on  their  right  of  way  just  east  of  Mr.  Herouxs  barn.  Last  winter 
the  company  took  a  change  of  venue  to  Olympia,  where  the  case  came  up 
in  June  last  for  trial  and  Conroy  was  nonsuited.  Upon  the  termination  of 
the  suit  the  company  made  a  comijlaint  against  Conroy  for  perjury,  and 
had  him  bound  over  to  the  December  term  of  the  court  to  await  the  action 
of  the  Grand  Jtiry,  Conroy  lay  in  jail  all  summer,  and  in  consequence  of 
his  confinement,  and  suffering  from  his  rupture  and  ill-health,  his  mind 
became  affected,  and  last  Saturday  he  was  sent  to  the  Insane  Asylum  at 
SteUacoom. 

There  is  very  httle  use  of  any  one  attempting  to  get  satisfaction  out 
of  a  raih-oad  company.  Poor  people  particularly  ought  to  know  that  they 
have  no  show  to  right  their  wrongs  through  the  courts.  Railroads  dehght 
in  the  rei^utation  they  have  'that  it  is  no  use  to  law  the  railroad,'  no 
matter  how  just  the  cause  may  be  against  them.  They  will  hire  men  to 
commit  perjury  or  anything  to  gain  their  ends,  and  when  now  and  then  a 
poor  devil  does  tiy  to  get  his  riglits,  the  company  "will  hu'e  a  host  of  wit- 
nesses, and  in  the  end  send  the  man  to  jail  until  he  becomes  insane.  This 
is  the  way  the  raih'oads  have  of  terrifying  the  people. 


The  Practical  Workings  op  Masonry,  etc.       593 

Conroy  ouglit  to  have  known  he  was  not  able  to  cope  with  the  North- 
em  Pacific  Railroad.  If  Lewis  County  conlcl  not  do  anything  with  the 
company,  how  could  a  single  iudi^adiial  hojje  to  do  so  ?  " 


Secret  societies  have  been  ilie  heme  of  all  countries  and  the  cause  of  the 
doicnfall  of  all  Republics.  America,  Avhose  greatest  boast  is,  it  believes  all 
men  are  created  free  and  equal,  has  no  use  for  secret  societies.  Many  men 
are  aiiifully  drawn  into  secret  societies,  but  few  self-respecting,  patriotic 
Americans  continue  their  connection  after  they  learn  the  aims  and  practices 
of  the  oath-bound  oi'ders.  In  oiu*  view  the  danger  to  the  liberties  of  the 
people  which  many  see  in  the  concentration  of  great  wealth  in  the  hands 
of  few  men  and  corporations,  are  homoeopathic  compared  with  the  danger 
to  the  free  institutions  of  Ameidca  hidden  in  the  oath-bound  societies 
which  are  contrived,  set  in  motion  and  kept  going  by  designing  dema- 
gogues, whose  chief  aim  in  life  is  to  live  well  without  labor. 

"  [Fkee-Masons]  Holding  Millions  of   Dollars  Worth  of  Pkopeety 
AND  Allowing  Laboring  Men  to   Pay  .all  the  Taxes. 

"Some  time  ago  we  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  upon  the 
shoulders  of  the  middle  classes  rested  the  burden  of  taxation,  and  we 
cited  several  cases  in  substantiation  of  the  assertion.  To-day  we  have 
a  few  more  cases  which  we  desire  to  call  attention  to,  and  if  they  do 
not  show  up  a  Httle  system  of  '  mysterious '  proceedings  on  the  jiart  of 
some  of  our  wealthiest  citizens,  then  we  are  at  a  loss  to  determine  what 
would  be  called  '  mysterious. ' . .  . . 

[It  will  be  found  that  nearly,  if  not  all,  of  these  dehuquents  who 
escape  taxation  owe  supreme  allegiance  to  a  foreign  government.  And  they 
generally  manage  to  have  an  assessor  elected  who  is  a  felloAv-oath-bound 
subject  of  the  same  masonic  gang.  A  fool  can  see  the  result  all  around 
him.] 

* 

"It  is  dishonest  and  demoralizing  to  the  public  for  such  notorious 
disregard  of  truth  and  law  to  continue  from  year  to  year,  and  that,  too, 

with  a  semi-official  encouragement    extended    to   it The  man  who 

has  little  save  a  small  homestead,  worth  $1,000  or  $1,500,  pays  on  $750 
or  $1,000,  while  the  man  or  company  worth  $50,000  or  $100,000,  pays 
for  not  more  than  $10,000  or  .$15,000.  It  is  high  time  an  organized 
effort  was  made  to  break  up  this  dishonesty.  The  citizens  should  select 
competent,  honest  and  fearless  men  for  assessors,  and  then  give  them 
the  encouragement  and  moral  support  they  would  need  in  destroying 
the  [masonic]  wall  behind  which  the  class  of  tax  payers  are  entrenched 
who  avail  themselves  of  fraud  and  perjury  to  escape  their  just  share  of 
the  pubUc  burdens.  The  aggregate  valuations  would  double,  and  per- 
haps quadruple,  and  this  would  render  necessary  a  less  rate  of  taxation. 
The  city  and  county  rate  could  safely  be  lessened  one-half.  Honest 
men  would  not  have  to  pay  as  much  as  now,  and  their  less  scrupulous 
[Unked]  neighbors  would  be  compelled  to  do  what  they  now  dishonestly 

avoid." 

*  * 

* 

"There  is  annually  50,000  aci-es  of  land  unassessed  in  Polk  county, 
or  one-sixth  of  the  entire  town  and  farming  area  of  this  county  is  yearly 
untaxed.     By  an  honest  assessment,  therefore,  the  jiercentage  of  taxation 

38 


594        The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

could  be  reduced  two  mills  on  tlie  dollar.     It  lias  taken  tlie  county  sur- 
veyor, together  with  his  assistant,  six  months  to  comi^ute  these  figures." 

[And  so  it  is  everywhere  when  the  secret  gang  gets  a  fellow-subject  in 
as  assessor.     //  is  j>r(ictical  maso/tri/ !] 

*  * 

"A  certain  disreputable  fellow  [a  masonic  lawyer-honored  'member 
of  the  bar  ']  who  was  a  member  of  the  last  legislature,  and  who  was  then 
Tinder  an  indictment  for  perjui'y,  in  order  to  shield  himself  succeeded 
in  working  through  a  law  in  such  a  shape  that  no  person  who  swears 
falsely  is  giiilty  of  perjury." 

[Not  quite  so  ;  all  the  laws  are  so  fixed  that  they  don't  operate  against 
members  of  the  gang,  hut  their  shape  is  good  enough  to  work  against  out- 
siders, and  when  tlu  r  J  is  no  code  law  to  apply  then,  the  higher  law  of 
"  public  policy"  is  dug  up  and  used  against  him.  So  the  code  laws  are 
really  but  a  convenient  blind  and  humbug  to  swindle  the  people.] 

*  * 
* 

Timber  Thieves. 

The  California  Redwood  company,  an  English  company  with  Scotch 
directors,  has  stolen  64,000  acres  of  the  most  valuable  timber  land  in  the 
world,  estimated  by  experts  to  be  worth  not  less  than  $22,000,000.  Four 
hundred  men  were  found  who  would  enter  160  acres  each  and  then  deed 
the  land  to  this  Redwood  company.  Some  of  these  men  were  town  pau- 
pers, some  of  them  paralytics,  some  of  them  sailors  not  yet  naturahzed. 
These  straw  "  homesteaders  "  marched  from  a  rumhole  in  Eureka,  Cal.,  to 
the  United  States  land  office  and  then  to  a  notary  ijublic  to  transfer  their 
land.  For  this  ser\-ice  they  received  .$50  each  and  this  Redwood  company 
with  its  foreign  cai)ital,  English  president  and  Scotch  directors  got  an 
alleged  title  to  64,000  acres  of  valuable  land  hea\dly  timbered.  To  "  prove 
up  "  his  claim  required  jaerjury,  and  jjerjury  was  forthcoming.  Of  course, 
the  homestead  act  was  not  intended  to  be  used  for  such  gross  perversion 
of  land  that  belongs  to  the  bona  fide  settler,  and  these  facts  illustrate  what 
frightful  robbeiies  of  public  lands  are  perpetrated  in  defiance  of  the  tim- 
ber laud  act. 

In  connection  with  these  enormous  public  land  robberies  it  is  worth 
Avhile  to  notice  that  the  last  official  act  of  Lamar,  as  Secretary  of  the  In- 
terior, was  to  remove  from  office,  as  the  price  of  his  support  of  the  re- 
publican senators  who  voted  for  his  conformation,  Captain  John  W.  Le- 
Barues,  an  ex-Union  soldier,  an  old-time  anti-slavery  friend  of  Governor 
Andrew  and  Wendell  Phillips.  LeBarnes  was  a  law  clerk  of  the  general 
land  office,  who  for  years  has  stood  in  the  way  of  land  grabbers,  railway 
corporations,  attorneys  for  cattle  companies,  pine  land  combinations,  etc. " 

[Those  who  don't  know  are  here  informed  that  it  is  only  a  secret  oath- 
bound  gang  of  masons,  etc. ,  that  overrides  and  defies  our  government,  and 
works  these  land  swindles  through  m"//7j  impmiity,  a  part  of  whom  must  be 
officials  in  the  land  office  and  the  courts.  A  citizen,  therefore,  who,  watli 
these  indisimtable  facts  and  swindles  staring  him  in  the  face,  who  would 
appoint  or  vote  for  one  of  these  oath -bound  subjects  of  the  gang  for  office 
is  either  a  fool  or  a  thief  and  a  traitor  to  his  country  !  Let  all  persons 
who  believe  that  their  duty  to  their  secret  government  and  pagan  "  mys- 
teries "  is  higher  than  their  duty  to  their  country,  be  declared  to  be  in- 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        595 

eligible  to  act  as  jurors  or  to  hold  any  office  of  trust  under  the  general  govern- 
ment if  it  is  to  be  supreme! 

Is  it  not  safer  and  better  to  trust  to  an  instinctive  love  for  our  fellow 
creatures,  ■wbicli  cannot  be  perverted,  to  their  annoyance,  tlian  to  secret- 
oath-bound  subjection  to  a  despotic  gang  which  have  too  frequently  jiro- 
duced  the  seeds  of  hatred,  intolerance  and  high-handed  persecution  ?] 

*  * 
* 

"An  Alleged  Muedekek  Discharged." 
....  "Justice  [Mason]  discharged  from  custody  to-day  [Links]  charged 
with  the  murder  of  [Blank].  In  rendering  his  decision  the  justice  said 
that  the  defense  had  clearly  proved  by  the  testimony  of  '  two  experts ' 
[brethren]  that  defendant  was  not  in  his  right  mind  at  the  time  of  com- 
mitting the  act."  [Links  had  shot  Blank  down  in  open  court  and  shot 
him  in  the  back  in  cold  blood  !  and  was  never  before  or  since  sent  to  any 
insane  asylum.  And  was  not  insane  though  his  victim  may  have  been.  Now 
all  should  know  that  an  outsider  can  never  get  discharged  from  a  charge 
of  such  a  murder  by  only  getting  two  "experts"  (?)  to  testify  that  he 
"  was  not  in  his  right  mind  at  the  time  of  committing  the  act." 

I^oio  look  here!  Would  men,  even  victims,  be  "in  their  right 
minds  "  in  the  kiUing  of  ring  prostituted  courts  ?  This  defendant  whose 
farce  of  a  trial  and  discharge  is  but  a  sample  case  of  so  many  had  not 
been  wi-onged  much  in  comjiarison  to  hundreds  of  men  who  besides  are 
now  languishing  in  secret  prisons,  and  who  have  greater  cause  and  better 
right  to  kill  a  dozen  men  each,  than  he  had  to  kill  one  !  In  truth  he 
hardly  knows  what  a  wrong  is  !  or  what  it  is  to  suffer  cruel,  relentless, 
persistent,  flaming  injury  !  Are  you  ready  all!  to  see  to  it  thai  these  out- 
raged,  tortured,   bleeding  victuns  have  the  benefit,  if  they  like,  of  the 

"  higher  law  "  or  of  "  experts"  (?)  as  well  as  do  members  of  the  gang  ?] 

*  * 
* 

"  The  ring  in  this  town  is  composed  of  [masonic]  Democrats  as  well 
as  [masonic]  Kepublicans.  They  have  a  common  cause — the  spoils  of  all 
they  can  get." 

[They  jjack  both  conventions  with  their  secret  oath-bound  brethren 
so  they  can  say  to  the  jDeople,  "  heads  we  -win  and  tails  you  loose."  The 
Australian  election  system  should  be  adopted.] 

*  * 
* 

Pkoceedings  of  County  Commissioners'  Court. 

"  Matter  of  remitting  taxes  on  Odd  Fellows'  Temple.  Ordered  that 
said  taxes  be  cancelled." 

[It  is  to  their  supreme  and  secret  government  that  they  pay  their 
taxes.     Such  "commissioners  "  are  traitors  !] 

*  * 
* 

HoiD  the  gang  "  hang  men  for  betraying  a  trust  or  stealing  a  sum  exceed- 
ing $5,"  as  they  hoicl  should  be  done  [meaning  to  outsiders)  : 

"The  Washingtoniaii,  in  a  very  soothing  tone  remarks  about  as  fol- 
lows :    At  the  regular  session  of  the  commissioners  last  week,  Brother 


596       The  Practical  AVorkings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

Links,  the  Treasurer,  was  found  to  he  short  in  his  accounts  §12,300.  Mr. 
Links  has  huml  )lv  resigned,  and  concludes  by  saying,  "  It  is  a  bad  state 
of  aSairs,  but  we -withhold  comments  until  further  facts  are  developed." 
"Why  attempt  to  smooth  over  so  dastardly  a  theft  ?  A  man  in  whom 
the  people  have  confided,  to  maliciously  and  intentionally  rob  them  of 
their  trust,  is  a  thousand  times  worse  than  the  poor,  half-starved  sneak- 
thief  who  prowls  about  nights,  seeking  what  he  can  find  to  ajjpease  hunger 
or  cloth  nudity." 

"More  of  the  Gang's  Work." 

"As  will  be  seen  by  the  telegraphic  dispatches,  it  has  been  discovered 
that  Links,  Treasurer  of  Garfield  county,  and  a  number  of  the  [masonic] 
Ting  of  jjolitical  tricksters,  ia  short  in  his  accounts  at  least  .$12,000.  Of 
•course,  you  can't  turn  a  wheel  Axithout  water — neither  can  you  run  machine 
politics  without  soap.  Links  furnished  the  soap,  in  the  meantime  blasting 
liis  character  and  ruining  his  bondsmen.  The  money  was  '  loaned '  to  the 
tsame  corrupt  gang  who  recently  tried  to  work  the  primaries.  Garfield 
•county  has  long  been  noted  for  this  corrupt  [masonic]  gang,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  this  expose  ■mil  settle  this  crowd  of  thieves." 

"  The  Pomeroy  ladependent,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  says  :  '  Links  has 
been  a  brother  to  us,  but  we  cannot  excuse  him  in  the  great  wrong  he  has 
done  his  friends  in  this  transaction.  This  paper  insists  that  the  law  take 
its  course  as  it  would  in  the  case  of  a  delinquent  tax-jjayer. "  This  is  a  call 
io  all  grand  larceny  defaulting  thieves  to  go  to  Pomeroy  for  brotherly  jjro- 
lection,  because  there  they  are  only  classed  as  delinquent  tax-payers." 

[And  the  court  said  that  he   (being  a  mason)   was   "innocent  of  a  hi/ 

crime."    Good  judiciary  !] 

*  * 

•X- 

"  How  did  he  discharge  the  office  of  a  Judge  ?  Let  those  who  suf- 
fered by  his  injustice  answer It  is  notorious  that  during  the  time  of 

their  tyranny  the  [people]  neither  enjoyed  the  protection  of  their  laws.. 
nor  of  the  natural  and  unalienable  rights  of  men.  No  inhabitant  of  the 
ruined  country  has  been  able  to  keep  possession  of  anything  but  what  has 
either  escajjed  the  rapaciousness,  or  been  neglected  by  the  satiety  of  those 
universal  plunderers.  Their  nod  has  decided  all  causes  and  their  decisions 
have  broken  all  law,  all  j^recedent,  all  right.  The  sums  they  have  by 
arbitrary  taxes  and  unheard-of  impositions  extorted  from  the  industrious 
2)oor,  are  not  to  be  computed.  The  most  faithful  citizens  have  been 
-treated  as  criminals.  [American]  citizens  have,  like  slaves,  been  put  to 
■death  with  tortures.  The  most  atrocious  criminals,  for  money  [or  secret 
influence],  have  been  exemjjted  from  their  desen^ed  punishments,  and 
men  of  the  most  unexceptional  characters  condemned  and  imj^risoned  un- 
heard  The  infamy  of  their  lewdness  has  been  such  as  decency  forbids 

to  describe.  Nor  will  I,  by  mentioning  particulars,  put  those  unfortunate 
persons  to  fresh  pain,  who  have  not  been  able  to  save  their  wives  and 
•daughters  from  their  impurities.  And  these,  their  atrocious  crimes,  have 
been  committed  in  so  public  a  manner,  that  there  is  no  one  who  has  heard 
their  name,  but  could  reckon  up  their  actions. 

Now  [gentlemen  of  the  masonic  gang]  I  ask  what  you  have  to  advance 
figainst  this  charge  ?    Will  you  jn-etend  to  deny  it  ?      Will  you  j^retend 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       597 

that  anything  false,  that  even  anything  aggravated,  is  alleged  against 
you  ?  Had  any  j^rince  or  any  State  committed  the  same  outrages  against 
the  i^rivileges  of  [American]  citizens, should -we  not  think  we  had  sufficient 
ground  for  declaring  war  against  them  ?  What  punishment  oiight  then  to 
be  inflicted  upon  a  tyrannical  and  wicked  [gang]  who  dared  in  the  [shadow 
of  the  American  flag]  to  i)ut  to  an  infamous  torture  and  death  that  unf or- 
tunate  and  innocent  citizen ....  only  for  having  asserted  his  privilege  of 
citizenship,  and  declared  his  intention  of  ajipeaHng  to  the  justice  of  his 
country  against  a  cruel  ojipressor,  who  had  imjustly  confined  him  in  prison 
from  whence  he  had  made  his  escape  ?  The  unhapi)y  man . .  is  brought 
before  the  wicked  [gang] .  With  eyes  darting  fury  and  countenances  dis- 
torted with  cruelty,  they  order  the  helpless  victim  of  their  rage  to  be 
stripped  and  rods  to  be  brought ;  accusing  him,  but  without  the  least 
shadow  of  evidence,  or  even  of  suspicion  of  having  [committed  any  crime]. 
It  was  in  vain  that  the  unhajipy  man  cried  oxit,  '  I  am  an  [American] 
citizen,  and  will  attest  my  innocence. '  The  blood-thirsty  [gang] ,  deaf  tO' 
all  he  could  urge  in  his  own  defence,  ordered  the  infamous  punishment  to 
be  inflicted.  Thus,  [fellow-citizens],  was  an  innocent  American  citizen, 
publicly  mangled ....  whilst  the  only  words  he  uttered  amidst  his  cruel 
sufi'erings  were,  '  I  am  an  [American]  citizen  ! '  Witli  these  lie  hoped  to 
defend  himself  from  violence  and  infamy.  But  of  so  little  ser\ace  was 
this  jn-ivilege  to  him,  that  while  he  was  thus  asserting  his  citizenship,  the 
order  was  given  for  his  destruction. 

Oh,  liberty  !  Oh,  sound  once  delightful  to  every  [American]  ear  !  Oh, 
sacred  privilege  of  [American]  citizenship  !  once  sacred,  now  trampled 
upon  !  But  what  then  ?  Is  it  come  to  this  ?  Shall  an  inferior  magistrate, 
a  governor,  who  holds  his  whole  power  of  the  [American]  people  in  [an 
American  State]  bind,  surge,  torture  with  red  hot  i^lates  of  iron,  and  at  the 
last  put  to  an  infamous  death,  an  American  citizen  ?  Shall  neither  the 
cries  of  innocence  expiring  in  agony,  nor  the  tears  of  jaitying  spectators, 
nor  the  majesty  of  the  [American  Union]  nor  the  fear  of  the  justice  of  his 
country,  restrain  the  licentious  and  wanton  cruelty  of  a  monster,  who,  in. 
confidence  of  his  riches  [and  secret  power]  strikes  at  the  root  of  liberty, 
and  sets  mankind  at  defiance  ? 

I  conclude  with  expressing  my  hopes  that  your  wisdom  and  justice 
[my  fellow-men]  will  not,  by  sufi'ering  the  atrocious  and  unexampled  inso- 
lence of  [the  masonic  gang]  to  escape  the  due  punishment,  leave  room  to 
apprehend  the  danger  of  a  total  subversion  of  authority  and  introduction 
of  general  anarchy  and  confusion."  Cicero. 

* 
"Dr.  [Links]  Arrived." 
"Dr.  [Links]  returned  last  Monday  from  the  East.  He  was  delegate 
to  the  Sovereign  Grand  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  which  met  at  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. He  has  had  an  interview  with  President  Cleveland,  and  says  that 
the  chief  magistrate  of  the  nation  is  a  good  and  time  man.  The  way  it 
came  about  was  this  :     Mr.  Links  applied  for  admittance  to  his  Excel- 


598       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

lency'8  presence.  There  were  about  one  hundred  persons  in  "waiting  on 
the  President,  all  anxious  to  get  the  first  inter\'iew.  Our  townsman  pre- 
sented his  card,  and  the  doorkeeper  being  an  odd-fellow,  admitted  him 
forthwith,  leaving  many  eminent  men  of  '  high  degree  '  to  bide  their  time. 
President  Cleveland  is  an  odd-fellow  of  high  standing  and  talked  with 
Mr.  Links  at  length  on  different  matters. " 

[Is  it  not  humiliating,  indeed  !  that  even  at  the  White  House 
and  the  different  departments  of  the  government  at  Washington,  full- 
fledged  American  citizens  must  stand  aside  and  tvait  till  the  secret 
ohligations  and  interests  of  a  secret  Mormon  government  and  its  sub- 
jects thus  held  supreme  are  first  attended  to  ?'\ 

* 
"  I  would  give  up  my  life,  aud  that  alone  for  God's  sake  : 
for  to  what  purpose  is  it  to  live  among  a  people  insensible  of 
their  calamities,  and  where  there  is  no  notion  remaining  of  any 
remedy  for  the  miseries  that  are  upon  them  ?  for  when  you  are 
seized  upon,  you  bear  it,  when  beaten  you  are  silent,  and  when 
the  people  are  murdered,  nobody  dares  so  much  as  send  out  a 
groan  openly.  Oh,  bitter  tyranny  that  we  are  under  !  But  why 
do  I  complain  of  the  tyrants  ?  Was  it  not  you,  and  your  suffer- 
ance of  them,  that  have  nourished  them  ?  Was  it  not  you  that 
overlooked  those  that  first  got  together,  for  they  were  then  but 
a  few,  aud  by  your  silence  made  them  grow  to  be  many,  and  by 
conniving  at  them  when  they  took  power  in  effect  armed  them 
against  yourselves  ?  You  ought  to  have  then  prevented  their 
first  attempts,  when  they  fell  to  reproaching  your  relations,  but 
by  neglecting  that  care  in  time  you  have  encouraged  these 
wretches  to  plunder  men.  When  houses  were  pillaged,  nobody 
said  a  word,  which  was  the  occasion  why  they  carried  off  the 
owners  of  those  houses,  and  when  they  were  drawn  through 
the  midst  of  the  city  nobody  came  to  their  assistance.  They 
then  proceeded  to  put  those  whom  you  have  betrayed  into  their 
hands  into  bonds.  I  do  not  say  how  many  aud  of  what  char- 
acters those  men  were  whom  they  thus  served,  but  certainly 
they  were  accused  by  none  [but  themselves]  and  condemned 
by  none  [but  themselves]  aud  since  nobody  succored  them 
when  they  were  in  bonds,  the  consequence  was  that  you 
saw  the  same  persons  slain. .  .  We  have  seen  this  also,  so 
that  still  the  best  of  the  herd  of  brute  animals,  as  it  were, 
have  been  still  led  to  be  sacrificed,  when  yet  nobody  said  one 


The  Practical  Working«  of  Masonry,  etc.        599 


word,  or  moved  his  right  liaud  iov  their  preservation.  AVill  you 
bear,  therefore,  will  jou.  bear  to  see  your  sanctuary  [  of  eqiuxl 
justice]  trampled  on  ?  and  Avill  you  lay  steps  for  these  profane 
wretches,  upon  which  they  may  mount  to  higher  degrees  of 
insolence '?  Will  you  not  pluck  them  down  from  their  exulta- 
tion ?  Oh,  wretched  creatures  !  Will  not  3'ou  rise  up  and  turn 
upon  those  that  strike  you  ?  Avhich  you  may  observe  in  wild 
beasts  themselves,  that  they  will  avenge  themselves  on  those 
that  strike  them.  Will  you  not  call  to  mind,  every  one  of 
you,  the  calamities  you  yourselves  have  suffered '?  Jior  lay  be- 
fore your  eyes  Avliat  afflictions  you  yourselves  have  undergone  ? 
and  will  not  such  things  sharpen  your  souls  to  revenge  ?  Is, 
therefore,  that  most  honorable  and  most  natural  of  our  passions 
utterly  lost,  I  mean,  the  desire  of  liberty  ?  Truly  we  are  in 
love  with  slavery  and  in  love  with  those  that  lord  it  over  us,  as 
if  we  had  received  that  principle  of  subjection  from  our  ances- 
tors ;  yet  did  they  undergo  many  and  great  wars  for  the  sake 
of  liberty  ! . . . .  But  perhaps  many  of  you  are  affrightened  at 
their  multitude  and  at  their  audaciousness,  as  well  as  at  the 
advantage  they  have  over  us  in  their  being  higher  in  place  than 
we  are  ;  for  these  circumstances,  as  they  have  been  occasioned 
by  your  negligence,  so  will  they  become  still  greater  by  being 
still  longer  neglected,  for  their  multitude  is  every  day  aug- 
mented by  everg  vile  man's  joining  those  that  are  like  to  the)nselves 
and  their  audaciousness  is  therefore  inflamed  because  they  meet 
with  no  obstructions  to  their  designs ....  but  be  assured  of  this 
that  if  we  get  up  and  fight  them  they  will  be  made  tamer .... 
perhaps  also  God  himself,  who  hath  been  affronted  by  them, 
will  make  what  they  throw  at  us  return  against  themselves, 
and  these  impious  wretches  will  be  killed  by  their  own  darts, 
let  us  but  make  our  appearance  before  them  [with  but  our 
votes]  and  they  will  come  to  nothing.  However,  it  is  a  right 
thing,  if  there  should  be  any  danger  in  the  attempt,  to  die  be- 
fore these  holy  gates,  and  to  spend  our  very  lives,  if  not  for  the 
sake  of  our  children  and  wives,  yet  for  God's  sake  and  for  the 
sake  of  his  sanctuary  of  liberty  !  I  will  assist  you  both  with 
my  counsel  and  with  ni}^  hand,  nor  shall  any  sagacity  of  ours 
be  wanting  for  your  support,  nor  shall  you  see  that  I  will  be 
sparing  with  my  body  neither." 


600       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

The  Stoky  of  Morgan. 

Thurlow     Weed's    account     of    the  fiimoua    murder. 

A  statement  dictated  two  months  before  his  death. 

The  following  letter,  dictated  by  the  late  Thurlow  Weed  but  a  short 
time  before  his  death,  contains  his  sworn  statement  of  his  knowledge  con- 
cerning the  abduction  and  alleged  murder  of  William  Morgan,  and  forms 
a  most  interesting  chapter  in  relation  to  the  sensational  events  which  in 
their  time  caused  so  great  a  social  and  laolitical  convulsion: 

NkwYobk,  Sept.  9th,  1882. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  delayed  the  answer  to  your  letter  inviting  me  to 
attend  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  to  Captain  Wilham  Morgan  in  the 
hope  that  I  shoiild  be  able  to  be  present  on  that  occasion. 

Imjjaired  vision,  added  to  other  infirmities,  prevents  my  going  far 
from  home.  The  occasion  is  one  that  recalls  an  event  of  startling  interest, 
arousing  deej>  popular  feeling,  first  at  Batavia,  Le  Roy,  Canandaigua  and 
Rochester,  then  pervading  our  own  and  other  States.  After  reading  the 
proceedings  of  a  meeting  at  Batavia,  with  the  Hon.  David  E.  Evans  as 
presiding  officer,  I  wrote  a  six  line  i^aragrajih  for  the  Rochester  Telegraph, 
in  which  I  stated  that  a  citizen  of  Batavia  had  been  spirited  away  from  his 
home  and  family  and  that,  after  a  mysterious  absence  of  several  days,  a 
village  meeting  had  been  held  and  a  committee  of  citizens  apjiointed  to  in- 
vestigate the  matter;  adding  that,  as  it  was  known  that  Freemasons  were 
concerned  in  this  abduction,  it  behooved  the  fraternity,  whose  good  name 
was  suffering,  to  take  the  laboring  oar  in  restoring  the  lost  man  to  his 
liberty.  That  paragrajjli  brought  dozens  of  our  most  influential  citizens, 
greatly  excited,  to  the  office,  stopping  the  paper  and  ordering  the  discon- 
tinuance of  their  advertisements.  I  inquired  of  my  jjartner,  Robert  Martin, 
what  I  had  done  to  exasperate  so  many  of  our  friends.  He  brought  me  a 
book  and  directed  my  attention  to  an  obligation  invoking  strict  j^enalties 
as  a  punishment  for  disclosing  the  secrets  of  Masons,  inquiring  what  I 
thought  of  a  man  who,  after  taking  such  an  obligation,  violated  it  ?  I  re- 
jjlied  that  I  did  not  know  any  jiunishment  too  severe  for  such  a  jierjurer. 
The  discontinuance  of  the  paper  embraced  so  large  a  number  of  its  patrons 
I  saw  that  my  brief  and,  as  I  supposed,  very  harmless  paragraph  would 
ruin  the  establishment.  Unwilling  that  my  jjartner  should  suffer,  I 
promptly  withdrew;  leaving  the  establishment  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Martin. 
The  paper  was  doing  well,  and  until  that  jjaragraph  ajipeared  my  business 
future  Avas  all  I  could  desire. 

At  that  time  an  editor  was  wanted  at  Utica,  where  I  had  formerly 
worked,  and  where  I  had  many  friends,  but  my  offer  to  go  there  was  de. 
clined.  I  was  equally  unfortunate  in  my  application  for  editorial  emi^loy- 
ment  at  Troy.  The  objection  in  both  cases  was  that  I  had  been  too  busy 
in  getting  up  an  excitement  about  Morgan. 

Meantime  the  mystery  deeijened,  and  public  meetings  were  held  in 
several  villages,  Rochester  included.     In  the  meeting  at  Rochester  it  was 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.        601 

assumed  that  all  good  citizens  would  unite  in  an  effort  to  vindicate  the 
law.  A  committee  was  appointed  consisting  of  seven,  three  of  whom  were 
Masons.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  three  Masons  went  from  the 
committee  to  the  lodge-rooms.  It  was  subsequently  ascertained  that  two 
of  these  gentlemen  were  concerned  in  the  abduction,  and  that  Morgan  had 
been  committed  to  the  jail  in  Canandaigua  on  a  false  charge  of  larceny, 
and  that  he  had  been  carried  from  thence  secretly  by  night  to  Fort  Niagara. 
The  committee  encountered  an  obstacle  in  obtaining  indictments  in  five  of 
the  six  counties  where  indictments  were  needed.  The  sheriffs  who  sum- 
moned the  grand  juries  were  Freemasons.  In  four  counties  no  indict- 
ments could  be  obtained.  In  Ontario,  however,  the  district  attorney, 
Bowen  Whiting,  and  the  sheriff,  Joseph  GarHnghouse,  though  Masons,  re- 
garded their  obligation  to  the  laws  of  the  State  paramount.  Sheriff  Gar- 
linghouse  and  District  Attorney  Whiting  discharged  their  duties  indepen- 
dently and  honestly.  As  the  investigation  proceeded  the  e\'idence  in- 
creased that  Morgan  had  been  unlawfully  confined  in  the  Canandaigua 
jail  and  secretly  conveyed  to  Fort  Niagara,  where  he  was  confined  in  the 
magazine.  There  was  every  reason  to  believe  that  he  was  taken  from  the 
magazine  and  drowned  in  Lake  Ontario.  This,  however,  was  boldly  and 
persistently  denied — denials  accompanied  by  solemn  assurances  that  Mor- 
gan had  been  seen  alive  in  several  places,  divided  the  public  sentiment. 
At  town  meetings,  several  months  after  Morgan's  disappearance,  the 
question  was  taken  into  politics.  A  large  number  of  zealous  anti-Masons 
determined  to  make  it  a  ijolitical  issue.  Solomon  Southwick  was  nominated 
at  Le  Eoy  for  governor.  Our  committee  firmly  resisted  all  such  efforts, 
urging  all  who  were  connected  with  us  in  an  effort  to  vindicate  the  law  to 
vote  for  the  candidates  of  the  party  with  which  they  had  been  previously 
connected.  We  endeavored  to  induce  the  whig  State  convention  to  nomi- 
nate Francis  Granger,  but,  failing  in  that,  we  gave  our  support  to  Judge 
Smith  Thompson.  Afterwards,  at  a  village  election  in  Rochester,  Dr.  F. 
F.  Backus,  who  had  been  treasurer  by  an  unanimous  vote  of  the  electors 
from  the  time  the  village  charter  had  been  obtained,  was  again  the  candi- 
date of  both  parties.  No  whisper  of  opi^osition  was  heard  before  the  elec- 
tion, or  at  the  polls,  but  when  the  votes  were  canvassed  a  majority  appear- 
ed in  favor  of  Dr.  John  B.  Elwood.  Dr  Backus  was  an  active  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  Morgan  investigating  committee.  That  astounding 
result  i^roduced  an  instantaneous  change. 

Political  anti-Masonry  from  that  moment  and  for  that  reason  became 
an  element  in  our  elections.  It  was  alleged  and  extensively  believed  that 
the  "  Morgan  committee,"  to  gratify  personal  aspii-ations,  went  voluntarily 
into  politics.  Those  allegations  were  as  untruthful  as  they  were  unjust. 
It  was  not  untn  Ave  ascertained  that  the  fraternity,  by  a  secret  movement, 
was  strong  enough  to  defeat  the  candidate  of  both  political  j'arties,  that 
we  consented  to  join  issue  with  them  poHtically, 

In  the  autumn  of  1827,  the  discovery  of  the  body  of  an  unknown  man 
on  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  near  the  mouth  of  Oak  Orchard  Creek,  gave 


602       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

a  new  and  absorbing  aspect  to  the  question.  The  description  of  that  body 
as  pubhshed  by  the  coroner  who  held  an  inquest  over  it,  induced  the  be- 
lief that  it  was  the  body  of  William  Morgan.  Our  committee  decided  to 
hold  another  inquest.  Impressed  with  the  importance  and  responsibility 
of  the  question  I  gave  pubhc  notice  of  our  intention,  and  personally  invit- 
ed several  citizens  who  had  known  Morgan  to  be  present.  One  of  our 
committee  went  to  Batavia  to  secure  the  attendance  of  Mrs.  Morgan  and 
as  many  others  who  knew  him  to  attend.  The  body  had  been  interred 
Avhere  it  was  found.  The  rude  coffin  was  opened  in  the  presence  of 
between  forty  and  fifty  persons.  When  it  was  reached  and  before  remov- 
ing the  lid,  I  received  from  Mrs.  Morgan,  and  others  who  knew  him  well, 
desciiptions  of  his  person.  Mrs.  Morgan  described  the  color  of  his  hair, 
a  scar  upon  his  foot,  and  that  his  teeth  were  double  all  round.  Dr.  Strong 
confirmed  Mrs.  Morgan's  statement  about  double  teeth,  one  of  which  he 
had  extracted,  while  another  was  broken,  indicating  the  position  of  the 
extracted  and  broken  teeth.  When  the  coffin  was  opened  the  body  dis- 
closed the  peculiarities  described  by  Mrs.  Morgan  and  Dr.  Strong. 

This  second  inquest  and  the  examinations  of  the  body  proceeded  in 
open  day  and  in  the  presence  of  Masons  and  anti-Masons,  not  one  of  whom 
dissented  from  the  coroner's  jury,  by  which  the  body  was  unanimously 
declared  to  be  that  of  William  Morgan.  Mrs.  Morgan,  in  her  testimony, 
failed  to  recognize  the  clothes.  The  body  was  taken  to  Batavia,  where  it 
was  re-interred,  no  one  as  yet  expressing  any  doubt  of  its  identity. 

Subsequently,  however,  we  were  surprised  by  a  statement  that  the 
body  sujjposed  to  be  that  of  Morgan  was  alleged  to  be  the  body  of  Timothy 
Monroe,  who  had  been  drowned  in  the  Niagara  river  several  weeks  before 
holding  the  first  inquest.  This  awakened  general  and  intense  feehng. 
Notice  was  given  that  a  third  inquest  would  be  held  at  Batavia,  where  the 
widow  and  son  of  Timothy  Monroe  appeared  as  witnesses.  Mrs.  Monroe 
swore  to  a  body  essentially  different  from  that  found  at  Oak  Orchard  creek. 
Her  husband,  she  said,  had  black  hair  that  had  been  recently  cut  and 
stood  erect.  Her  testimony  made  her  husband  from  three  to  four  inches 
taller  than  that  of  the  body  in  qiiestion.  She  testified  that  her  husband 
had  double  teeth  all  round  and  described  an  extracted  tooth  from  the 
Avrong  jaw  and  knew  nothing  at  all  of  the  broken  tooth.  The  hair  upon 
the  head  of  the  drowned  man  was  long,  silky  and  of  a  chestnut  color, 
while  that  of  Monroe,  according  to  the  testimony  erf  Mrs.  Monroe  and  her 
son,  Avas  short,  black  and  close  cut.  While  Mrs.  Monroe  failed  in  des- 
cribing the  body,  her  description  of  the  clothing  was  minutely  accurate. 
The  heel  of  his  stocking  was  described  as  having  been  darned  with  yarn 
different  in  color.  Her  cross-examination  was  very  rigid  and  her  answers 
throughout  were  found  to  be  correct.  The  clothing  thus  described  had 
been  in  possession  of  the  coroner,  who  testified  that  it  had  been  seen  either 
by  Mrs.  Monroe  or  any  stranger  from  whom  she  could  have  obtained  in- 
formation.    On  the  other  hand,  Mrs.  Morgan's  description  of  the  body, 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  eic,        603 

before  she  laad  seen  it,  Avas  quite  as  satisfactory  as  Mrs.  Monroe's  descrip- 
tion of  the  clothes. 

Onr  committee  took  no  part  in  the  third  inquest,  and  the  body,  as  is 
known,  was  declared  to  be  that  of  Timothy  Monroe.  Simultaneously  an 
accident  occurred  showing  the  vindictive  spirit  of  our  opponents.  On  the 
evening  of  the  day  that  the  body  interred  at  Batavia  was  declared  by  a 
third  inquest  to  be  that  of  Timothy  Monroe,  I  went  into  the  billiard  room 
of  the  Eagle  hotel  to  see  a  friend  from  Clarkson.  When  leaving  the  room, 
Ebenezer  Griffin,  Esq.,  a  j^romineut  lawyer  employed  as  counsel  for 
Masons,  said,  "Well,  Weed,  Avhat  will  you  do  for  a  Morgan  now  ?"  To 
which  I  replied,  "That  is  a  good  enough  Morgan  for  us  till  you  bring 
back  the  one  you  carried  off."  On  the  following  morning  the  Daily  Ad- 
vertiser, a  Masonic  organ,  contained  a  paragrajih  charging  me  with  having 
boastingly  said  that  the  body  in  question  ' '  was  a  good  euovigh  Morgan 
until  after  the  election."  That  lierversion  went  the  rounds  of  the  Masonic 
and  democratic  press,  awakening  much  jjoi^ular  indignation  and  subjecting 
me  to  denunciations  in  speeches  and  resolutions  at  political  meetings  and 
conventions.  Explanations  were  disregarded;  the  maxim  that  "  Falsehood 
will  travel  miles  while  truth  is  drawing  on  its  boots  "  was  then  verified.  I 
suffered  obloquy  and  rei^roach  from  that  Avieked  perversion  for  nearly  half 
a  century.  Indeed,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  even  now,  where  I  am 
personally  unknown,  generations  are  growing  up  believing  that  I  mutilated 
a  dead  body  for  political  effect,  and,  when  exposed,  boasted  that  it  was  a 
good  enough  Morgan  until  after  the  election.  Forty  years  afterwards  the 
editor  of  the  paper  who  originated  that  calumny,  by  a  series  of  pecuniary 
reverses,  was  compelled  to  apply  to  me  for  assistance.  I  avenged  the 
great  wrong  he  had  done  me  by  obtaining  for  liim  a  situation  in  the  custom 
house. 

This  served  to  extend  and  intensify  the  "excitement."  It  was  every- 
where charged  and  widely  believed  that  I  had  mutilated  the  body  in 
question  for  the  i^urjjose  of  making  it  resemble  that  of  Captain  William 
Morgan.  I  encountered  prejudices  thus  created  both  in  Paris  and  London 
20  years  afterwards. 

Our  investigations  were  embarrassed  and  protracted  by  the  abseuc 
and  concealment  of  important  witnesses.  One  of  these  Avitnesses  Avas  in 
invalid  soldier  who  had  the  care  of  Morgan  A\liile  confined  in  the  magazine 
at  Fort  Niagara,  but  he  disappeared,  and  all  efforts  to  find  liim  were  un- 
availing for  more  than  a  year.  I  finally  traced  him  (Elisha  Adams)  to 
Brookfield,  a  mountain  toAvn  in  Vermont.  We  reached  the  log  house  of 
Adams'  brother-in-laAV,  Avith  Avhom  he  Avas  hiding,  betAveenl2  and  1  o'clock 
at  night.  Our  rap  Avas  responded  to  by  the  oAvner,  to  Avhom,  on  ojiening 
the  door  the  sheriff  introduced  me,  directly  after  Avhich,  and  before  any- 
thing more  had  been  said,  Ave  heard  a  A'oice  from  the  second  floor  of  the  cabin 
saying,  "  I  am  ready  and  have  been  expecting  you  all  winter. "  Immediately 
afterAvards  the  old  man  came  down  the  ladder,  and  in  10  minutes  aa-c  de- 
parted on  our  return. 


604       The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

While  ■waiting  for  breakfast  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  several  men 
dropped  into  the  bar-room  where  we  were  sitting.  When  called  to  break- 
fast, the  landlady,  carefully  closing  the  door,  remarked  that  her  husband 
had  sent  around  for  Masons,  some  of  whom  had  already  appeared,  but 
that  we  need  not  fear  them  for  she  had  sent  her  daughter  to  inform  other 
viUagers  what  was  going  on,  and  that  before  we  had  done  breakfast  there 
would  be  twice  as  many  anti-Masons  in  attendance.  Returning  to  the 
bar-room  we  found  that  she  had  done  her  work  thoroughly.  Fifteen  or 
twenty  men  were  in  the  bar-room  glaring  at  each  other  and  at  Adams ;  but 
nothing  was  said  and  Ave  were  driven  off  unmolested.  On  our  way  back, 
Adam,  at  different  times,  stated  that  hearing  a  noise  in  the  magazine  he 
reported  it  to  Mi*.  Edward  Giddins,  keejjer  of  the  fort,  who  told  him  that 
a  stranger  was  lodged  there  who  in  a  day  or  two  would  be  taken  to  his 
friends  in  Canada,  but  nothing  must  be  said  about  it.  He  then  from  time 
to  time  carried  food  to  the  person.  Soon  afterwards,  near  midnight,  he 
was  told  to  have  a  boat  in  readiness  for  the  jjurpose  of  taking  away  the 
man  in  the  magazine.  Several  gentlemen  arrived  in  a  carriage,  by  whom 
the  man  was  taken  from  the  magazine  and  escorted  to  the  boat.  Adams 
Avas  told  to  remain  on  the  dock  until  the  boat  should  return,  and  that  if  in. 
the  meantime  an  alarm  should  be  given  he  Avas  to  show  a  signal  to  warn 
the  boat  away.  As  nothing  of  the  kind  occurred  the  boat  returned  quietly, 
and  of  the  six  who  left  in  the  boat  only  five  returned,  he  supposed  that 
one  had  gone  to  his  friends  iu  Canada. 

Adams  was  wanted  as  a  Avitness  in  trials  then  pending  in  Canadaigua. 
We  reached  that  place  iu  the  afternoon  of  the  day  the  court  convened. 
Three  men  were  on  trial  for  abducting  Morgan.  The  testimony  of  Adams 
was  essential  to  complete  the  link.  On  being  called  to  the  stand  he  denied 
all  knowledge  bearing  upon  the  question.  He  resided,  he  said,  at  the  time 
sjsecitied,  in  the  fort,  but  knew  of  no  man  being  confined  in  the  magazine; 
and  knew  nothing  of  men  coming  there  at  night  in  a  carriage,  and  knew 
nothing  of  a  man  being  taken  from  there  in  a  boat.  His  denials  coA^ering 
the  whole  ground  were  explicit.  That,  for  the  time  being,  ended  the 
matter.  When  the  court  adjoui-ned  I  Avalked  across  the  square  with  Judge 
Howell,  who  presided,  and  who  remarked  to  me  that  I  had  made  a  long 
journey  for  nothing,  my  witness,  Adams,  being  ignorant  of  the  whole 
affair.  General  Vincent  Mathews,  of  Rochester,  who  Avas  walking  on  the 
other  side  of  the  jiidge,  replied  with  much  feeling,  "that  the  old  rascal 
had  not  uttered  a  Avord  of  truth,  while  he  AA^as  on  the  stand." 

General  Mathews  was  the  leading  counsel  for  the  kidnappers,  but  re- 
fused to  be  a  party  in  tampering  with  witnesses.  On  our  return  to  Rochester 
the  Avitness  Adams  was  in  an  extra  stage  with  his  Masonic  friends.  As 
there  was  no  longer  any  need  of  hiding  he  Avas  on  his  way  to  Niagara.  In 
passing  the  Mansion  House,  Rochester,  Adams,  who  was  standing  in  the 
doorway,  asked  me  to  stop,  saying  he  wanted  to  exjilain  his  testimony. 
The  laAvyers,  he  said,  informed  him  that  if  he  told  Avhat  he  knew  about 
the  magazine  and  the  boat,  it  would  be  a  confession  that  would  send  him 


The  Practical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc.       605 

to  state's  in-ison.  They  also  told  him  that  the  law  did  not  compel  a  wit- 
ness  to  criminate  himself ;  and,  to  avoid  punishment,  he  must  deny  the 
whole  story. 

In  1831,  after  my  removal  from  Kochester  to  Albany,  a  libel  suit  was 
commenced  against  me  by  General  Gould,  of  Kochester.  It  was  tried  at 
Albany,  Judge  James  Vanderpoel  presiding.  The  Hbel  charged  General 
Gould  with  giving  money  he  received  from  the  Royal  Arch  Grand  Chapter 
to  enable  Burrage  Smith  and  John  Whitney  to  escape  from  justice.  Gerrit 
L.  Dox,  treasurer  of  the  Grand  Chapter,  and  John  "Whitney,  one  of  the 
recipients  of  the  money,  were  in  court  to  establish  the  truth  of  the  libeL 
Mr.  Dox  testified  that  a  "  charity  fund  "  had  been  entrusted  to  General 
Gould.  John  Whitney  was  called  to  prove  that  he  received  part  of  the 
fund,  with  which,  in  company  with  Burrage  Smith,  he  left  Rochester,  and 
was  absent  nearly  a  year.  General  Gould's  counsel  objected  to  witness' 
testimony  until  it  had  been  shown  that  General  Gould  knew  that  the 
money  furnished  was  to  enable  Smith  and  Whitney  to  escape  from  justice. 
The  court  sustained  this  objection,  and  Whitney's  testimony  was  excluded. 
As  it  was  impossible  to  prove  what  was  only  known  to  General  Gould 
himself,  the  trial  ended  abruptly.  Judge  Vanderpoel,  in  charging  the 
jury,  dwelt  at  length  upon  the  licentiousness  of  the  jjress,  and  called  ujjon 
the  jury  to  give  exemjjlary  damages  to  the  injured  and  innocent  plaintiff. 
The  jury,  thus  instructed,  but  with  evident  reluctance,  found  a  verdict  of 
$400  dollars  agamst  me.  My  offense  consisted  in  asserting  a  fact,  the 
exact  truth  of  which  would  have  been  established  if  the  testimony  had  not 
been  ruled  out  by  a  monstrous  jjerversion  of  justice. 

Colonel  Simeon  B.  Jewett,  of  Clarkson  ;  Major  Samuel  Barton,  of 
Lewiston,  and  John  Whitney,  of  Rochester,  j^assed  that  evening  at  my 
house.  Jewett  was  jarepared  to  testify  that  he  furnished  a  carriage  for 
those  who  were  conveying  Morgan  secretly  from  Canadaigua  to  Niagara. 
John  Whitney  was  one  of  the  party.  Major  Barton  would  have  testified 
that  he  furnished  the  carriage  which  conveyed  the  party  from  Lewiston  to 
Fort  Niagara.  John  Whitney  being  one  of  the  j^arty.  Whitney  would 
have  sworn  that  Gould  supplied  money  to  enable  him  to  "escajje  from 
justice."  In  the  course  of  the  evening,  the  Morgan  affair  being  the  j^rinci- 
pal  toijic  of  conversation.  Colonel  Jewett  turned  to  Whitney  with  emj^hasis 
and  said,  "John,  what  if  you  make  a  clean  breast  of  it?"  Whitney 
looked  iuqxuringly  at  Barton,  who  added,  "Go  ahead." 

Whitney  then  related  in  detail  the  history  of  Morgan's  abduction  and 
fate.  The  idea  of  suppi'essing  Morgan's  intended  exjjosure  of  the  secrets 
of  Masonry  was  first  suggested  by  a  man  by  the  name  of  Johns.  It  was 
discussed  in  lodges  at  Batavia,  Le  Roy  and  Rochester.  Johns  suggested 
that  Morgan  should  be  separated  from  Miller  and  23laced  on  a  farm  in  Canada 
West.  For  this  purpose  he  was  taken  to  Niagara  and  j^laced  in  the  maga- 
zine of  the  fort  until  arrangements  for  settling  him  in  Canada  were  com- 


606       The  Puactical  Workings  of  Masonry,  etc. 

pletecl,  but  the  Canadian  Masons  disappointed  them.  After  several  meet- 
ings of  the  lodge  in  Canada,  opposite  Fort  Niagara,  a  refusal  to  Lave 
anything  to  do  with  Morgan  left  his  "  kidnajipers  "  greatly  perplexed. 
Opjiortunately  a  Koyal  Ai'ch  Chapter  was  installed  at  Le^viston.  The 
occasion  brought  a  large  number  of  enthusiastic  Masons  together.  "After 
labor,"  in  Masonic  language,  they  "retired  to  refreshment."  Under  the 
exhiloration  of  champagne  and  other  viands  the  Chajslain  (the  Rev.  F. 
H.  Cummings,  of  Bochester)  was  called  on  for  a  toast.  He  resjjcnded 
with  peculiar  emphasis  and  in  the  language  of  their  ritual :  "The  enemies 
of  our  order — may  they  find  a  grave  six  feet  deep,  sis  feet  long,  and  six 
feet  due  east  and  west."  Immediately  after  that  toast,  which  was  received 
with  great  enthusiasm.  Colonel  William  King,  an  officer  of  our  war  of 
1812,  and  then  a  member  of  assembly  from  Niagara  county,  called  Whit- 
ney of  Rochester,  Howard  of  Buffalo,  Chubbuck  of  Lewiston,  and  Garside 
of  Canada,  out  of  the  room  and  into  a  carriage  furnished  by  Major  Barton. 
They  were  driven  to  Fort  Niagara,  repaired  to  the  magazine  and  informed 
Morgan  that  the  arrangements  for  sending  him  to  Canada  were  completed 
and  that  his  family  would  soon  follow  him.  Morgan  received  the  inform- 
ation cheerfully  and  walked  with  suijjjosed  friends  to  the  boat,  which  was 
rowed  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  where  a  rope  was  wound  around  his 
body,  to  each  end  of  which  was  attached  a  sinker.  Morgan  was  then 
thrown  overboard.  He  grasped  the  gunwale  of  the  boat  convulsively. 
Garside,  in  forcing  Morgan  to  relinquish  his  hold,  was  severely  bitten. 

Whitney,  in  concluding  his  narrative,  said  he  was  now  relieved  from 
a  heavy  load  ;  that  for  four  years  he  had  not  heard  the  window  rustle  or 
any  other  noise  at  night  without  thinking  the  sheriff  was  after  him. 
Colonel  Jewett,  looking  fixedly  at  Whitney,  said  :  "Weed  can  hang  you 
now."  "But  he  won't,"  was  Whitney's  promjDt  reply.  Of  course,  a  secret 
thus  confided  to  me  was  inviolably  kept,  and  twenty  yeai*s  after,  while 
attending  a  national  repubhcan  convention  at  Chicago,  John  Whitney, 
who  then  resided  there,  called  to  say  he  Avanted  me  to  write  out  what 
he  once  told  me  about  Morgan's  fate,  to  be  signed  by  him  in  the  pres- 
ence of  witnesses,  to  be  sealed  up  and  published  after  his  death.  I 
Ijromised  to  do  so  before  lea\ing  Chicago.  There  was  no  leisure,  how- 
ever, during  the  sitting  of  the  convention ;  and  even  before  its  final 
adjournment,  forgetting  what  I  had  told  Whitney,  I  hurried  to  Iowa, 
returmng  by  way  of  Springfield  to  visit  Mr.  Lincoln.  In  the  excitement 
of  the  canvass  which  followed,  and  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States 
upon  Mr.  Lincoln's  election,  I  neglected  the  important  duty  of  securing 
the  confession  Whitney  was  so  anxious  to  make.  In  1861 1  went  to  Europe 
and  while  in  London  wrote  a  letter  to  Whitney  asking  him  to  get  Alex. 
B.  Williams,  then  a  resident  of  Chicago,  to  do  what  I  had  so  unjDar- 
donably  neglected.  That  letter  reached  Chicago  one  week  after  "V^Tiit- 
ney's  death,  closing  the  last  and  only  chance  for  the  revelation  of  that  im- 
portant event. 


The  Practical  Workings  op  Masonry,  etc.        607 

I  now  look  back  through  an  interval  of  fifty-six  years,  with  a  conscious 
sense  of  having  been  governed  through  the  "  anti-masonic  excitement"  by 
a  sincere  desire,  first,  to  vindicate  the  violated  laws  of  my  country,  and 
next,  to  arrest  tfie  great  power  and  dangerous  iufluences  of  "secret 
societies."  We  labored  under  serioiis  disadvantages.  The  people  were 
unwilhng  to  believe  that  an  institution  so  ancient,  to  which  many  of  our 
best  and  most  distinguished  men  belonged,  was  capable  of  not  only  vio- 
lating the  laws,  but  of  siistaining  and  pi'otecting  offending  men  of  the 
order.  A  vast  majority  of  the  American  people  beheved  that  Morgan  was 
concealed  by  our  committee  for  jjolitical  efi"cct.  Wliile  we  were  being 
fiercely  denounced  as  incendiai-y  spirits,  Judge  Enos  T.  Troop,  in  charg- 
ing the  grand  jury  at  Canadaigua,  spoke  of  anti-masonry  as  a  "blessed 
spirit"  which  he  hoped  "would  not  rest  until  every  man  implicated  in 
the  abduction  of  Morgan  was  tried,  convicted  and  punished." 

City  and  County  ) 
of  New  York,     j    '"'' 

Thiirlow  Weed,  being  duly  sworn,  says  that  the  foregoing  statements 
are  true.  Thurlow  Weed. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  28th  day  of  September,  1882. 

Spencer  C.  Doty, 

Notary  Public. 

[THE  END.] 


BEADEBS  WHO  APPRECIATE  THIS  BOOK  ABE  REQUESTED  TO  WRITE  TO  THE  AUTHOR. 


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